The Civil Society Committee

Sector brief

The Local Councils’ Association was established in 1994 with the aim to represent the 68 Local Councils and 5 Regional Councils around Malta and Gozo. The Local Councils’ Association promotes and safeguard the Local Councils’ interests both locally and internationally.

The Local Councils Association’s role is to offer a shared vision for an improved quality of life of residents in their localities, set quality standards for administration, service and good governance and facilitate communication with all stakeholders.

The LCA is composed of:

• the President, Mr Mario Fava,
• Vice- President International Affairs, Dr Samuel Azzopardi,
• Vice-President National Affairs, Chev. Paul Farrugia,
• Mr. Michael Fenech Adami, Mr. Jesmond Aquilina, Mr. Anthony Mifsud, Mr. Mark Grech, Ms. Graziella Galea and Mr. Joseph Cordina as Executive Committee Members
• The Executive Secretary, Ms. Lianne Cassar

The Local Councils Association’s role is to offer a shared vision for an improved quality of life of residents in their localities, set quality standards for administration, service and good governance and facilitate communication with all stakeholders.

The Association represents all the Local Councils with the aim of protecting and promoting the common interests of all the Local Councils and to represent, solely for the purposes of these regulations, all the Local Councils, in Malta and overseas, and on international associations of local government authorities.

The aims of the Association shall be those of protecting and promoting the common interests of Local Councils as well as offering consultancy services, training on its own initiatives and in conjunction with any other Council or Councils.

Most of the LCA Executive Committee Members also forms part of the Maltese Delegates in the Committee of the Regions in Brussels and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The LCA is also a member in the following organisations:

• Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)
• European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA)
• European Commission Against Drugs (ECAD)
• Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

Locally the LCA, is member of the Civil Society Committee within MCESD and also a member of the Disability Forum with the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability 

Sector representative
Mary Gaerty, Gender Equality

Sector brief
The National Council of Women of Malta (NCW) was founded in 1964. It is a non-governmental organisation comprising individual members and national organizations. It is non-partisan, non-sectarian and independent. It is a co-ordinating body that aims to present a broad and comprehensive view of women’s opinions on matters of public interest. It aims to improve the quality of life for all. In particular it works to promote equality of opportunity for women and enable them to participate effectively at all levels and in all aspects of the life of the community.

The National Council of Women provides a forum for women of different backgrounds and experiences to come together as individuals and as representatives of affiliated organizations, to exchange information and ideas, formulate policy, educate and promote change.

Presently the NCW is working on various projects including the new law regarding the Decriminalisation of Prostitution, The Gender Pay Gap, The Advancement of Women on Boards and The Reform to get more women in Parliament amongst others. The Council also offers educational courses at its center in Blata L- Bajda, through the Life-Long Learning Directorate, encouraging women to increase their level of education in order to be able to have better job opportunities should they wish to enter the labour market. The NCW works incessantly for the empowerment of women.

www.ncwmalta.com

Profession of each sector representative

St John Rescue Corps is represented by the Deputy Commissioner of the organisation, Christopher Borg Cardona, who has been a volunteer for the past 25 years.

Substitute

Gregory Ellul who is the Substitute, has been serving in the St John Rescue Corps for the last three-and-the-half years and has also past experiences when he worked with other NGOs tied to youth and philanthropic sectors. 

Sector brief:

For the past six years, the ‘Other’ Sector, has been represented in the Civil Society Committee by St John Rescue Corps, an organisation whose volunteers are at the forefront in assisting the authorities in case of emergencies.

Testimonial

The Civil Society Committee represents a wide range of NGO’s from various segments of society that meet regularly to discuss and debate constructively on topics of interest to the various sectors represented and on matters of national importance that come up from time to time.

The CSC, being represented in the MCESD meetings, has the means to bring forward its views and recommendations alongside other stakeholders represented in the MCESD and also presents its own proposals for the National Budget.

Sector Representative

Ms Marthese Mugliette, Persons with Disability

Profession of sector representative
Ms Marthese Mugliette is the President of the Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD). She is MFOPD’s representative on the Council of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability. Ms Mugliette makes sure MFOPD’s members are kept informed on what is happening in the disability sector both at local and European level and puts forward the members’ suggestions through the right channels. Ms Mugliette was the person who, for five whole years, with the constant support of Mr Evans, then President of the European Union of Supported Employment, worked inecessantly to introduce Supported Employment in Malta.

Ms Mugliette is a parent of a 34-year-old-daughter with Down Syndrome.

Sector brief:
The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) is a voluntary Non Governmental Organisation enrolled with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations VO/0042. It was founded 50 years ago with the aim to bring together associations working in the disability sector to promote and raise awareness about the different disabilities.

MFOPD is the national umbrella organisation for the disability sector and is the Malta representative at the European Disability Forum (EDF), Inclusion Europe, Inclusion International, the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL) and the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum.

MFOPD presently has 32 enrolled organisations and seven individual members within its umbrella structure. MFOPD strongly believes that all stakeholders concerned with disability issues have a place within its structure and above all have something to give/offer for the benefit of our role within society.

Profession of sector representative

Jesmond Cutajar is the Head of Aeronautical Information Management within the Malta Air Traffic Services. He studies included Master in Philosophy with applied Theology, and in 2015 he obtained another Master in Diplomacy and International Relations. In April 2020 he was appointed as Malta’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland. He is one of the founder members of Wirt iz-Zejtun a local NGO working in the Heritage sector.
To date he occupies the post of Treasurer since the foundation of the NGO in 2010. Jesmond is interested also in arts and music, and one of his hobbies is travelling.

James Licari is substitute of the sector.

Sector brief:

Environmental protection and improvement, including the protection of animals, culture, arts and national heritage
The sector is composed of environmental protection and improvement, including the protection of animals, culture, arts and National Heritage. In other words, this sector is responsible for the National Heritage and the Environment in its widest spectrum.

The aim of this sector is to bring together under one umbrella the NGO’s which are directly involved or interrelated to these subjects. The aim is, to propose changes to the Government policies which will be effectively beneficial to the wellbeing to the society in general. Special attention is given to the Environment, and the solidification of the National Identity by protecting the National Heritage.

Profession of sector representative

Fr Ivan Attard is a Dominican friar, who studied philosophy, psychology, theology and social sciences. In the Dominican Order, I occupy the duty of provincial promoter for justice and peace. As a visiting assistant lecturer in the Department of Public Policy (FEMA), he lectures in sociology of industrialised societies. I am also a member of the Anti-Poverty Forum (APF), where I represent Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar (AKF).

Sector brief

Our sector comprises 19 Voluntary Organisations. They are engaged in educational programmes, offer various kinds of social assistance to vulnerable people, especially individuals and families facing economic difficulties and are involved in the promotion of a healthy society.

The majority of the voluntary organisations in this sector are involved in social assistance and advocacy. A good number are dedicated to people experiencing economic-related difficulties, due to social problems or unemployment. Other organisations offer their support and assistance to people, who suffer from mental health problems. Some others accompany individuals, who lack family or other social support, when they leave prison and need help to be integrated in society. Still others assist migrants in their needs, especially to keep them out of criminal circles. Other organisations offer support and assistance to youths and young adults facing social problems and drug addiction. A good number are focused more on education and empowerment. They offer human formation programmes to develop basic life skills, in order to help those, who benefit from their services, to deal and cope with problems in their lives and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Some other organizations promote and teach cultural values, arts appreciation (especially music and literature) and sports activities.

Testimonial

The MCESD always offered us the necessary space to voice our concerns and promote our Committee’s agenda and sectorial interests that we represent. For example, some years ago, the MCESD supported Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar (AKF)’s campaign regarding the minimum wage. The MCESD, through the CSC, offers the opportunity to voluntary organizations, who are engaged in different sectors of society, to formally participate in matters of social and economic development and bring up on the political agenda the concerns, problems and interests of those people with whom we work and offer our services in order to improve and promote a just socio-economic society.

Profession of each sector representative

Marie Demicoli (MCESD CSC Member) is the Assistant Secretary of the Association for Consumer Rights Malta. Marie has participated and represented the Association for Consumer Rights at conferences in Malta and abroad. In 2012 Marie was appointed Ambassador for Active Aging. Her expertise includes promoting consumers’ rights and the important concept of lifelong learning for a better quality of life. For over 20 years, Marie has also been the office administrator of the National Council of Women Malta. There she has been instrumental in organising various conferences, seminars and also NCW Educational programme. Marie has been editor of the NCW quarterly newsletter for a number of years and also worked on a number of EU-funded and locally-funded projects. She has participated in a number of radio programmes encouraging the participation of the public in various events. She has been active in the voluntary sector since a very young age. Marie is qualified as an Executive Secretary and she has worked both in Malta and in the United Kingdom. She is married to Godfrey. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Catherine Polidano (Substitute)

Catherine Polidano is an Executive Committee Member of the Association for Consumer Rights Malta. Catherine’s academic and work backgrounds are in environmental management, public administration and education. Catherine’s research and activism particularly focus on the protection of public environmental health and the public’s right to environmental goods, as well as promoting sustainable consumption. For a number of years Catherine worked in waste management with Malta’s environmental protection entity and subsequently as Principal Performance Auditor at the National Audit Office. Currently Catherine works as a teacher within Malta’s Alternative Learning Programme for adolescents. A firm believer that grassroots activism is the basis for a healthy civil society, Catherine is also active in various environmental NGOs and community groups.

Sector brief:

The Association for Consumer Rights Malta (ACR Malta) works towards empowering individuals, to make informed choices when shopping, whether from local retailers or online, helps consumers keep in touch with national and EU legislation. One of its main roles is to give advice on how to seek redress when they feel their rights have not been respected. Through its strong links with EESC, ANEC and other EU Organisations and Institutions, ACR is in a key position to contribute through its expertise at EU level and to disseminate EU Commission policy to Maltese consumers

ACR Malta is committed to safeguard the interests of consumers in Malta in all aspects. It acts as a pressure group. It lobbies to enact national and EU legislation and the implementation of measures that ensure protection of consumer rights and interests.

Increasingly, ACR Malta is also disseminating the concept of responsible consumption so that Maltese consumers also contribute towards sustainable development.

Sector representative

Norma Camilleri, Health Elderly and Pensioners

Profession of sector representative

Norma Camilleri is a Speech-Language Pathologist, with special interest in the prevention and treatment of voice disorders. She is the President of the local Association of Speech-Language Pathologists (ASLP), as well as the President of the European Association for Speech and Language Therapy (CPLOL). She has been actively involved in volunteering since she was a student and actively works on increasing awareness on communication and swallowing disorders and the role of Speech-Language Pathologist’s in helping people with these difficulties.

Substitute

Moses Azzopardi

Sector brief:

The sector of Health, Elderly and Pensioners is one of the largest within the Civil Society Committee. Any registered Voluntary Organisation (VO) with a remit concerning health, elderly or pensioners is eligible to contribute to this sector, which currently comprises of nine organisations. More relevant VO’s are being encouraged to register within this sector. Issues related to anything concerning health and well-being of citizens as well as the elderly and pensioner populations in Malta, are brought to the table of the Civil Society Committee for discussion and eventually present suggestions to Government.