Whilst participating in a discussion session during the Concordia Annual Summit 2018 about the gender pay gap and gender inequalities, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that as a whole global population, “we are losing so much if half of the world’s population is not fully participating – we are losing in terms of our wealth, of our economic growth, and of our social progress.”
In fact, quoting data from the World Bank, the President said that if women were to be equal to men, global economic growth would increase by $160 trillion. “We would also be effectively addressing the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal Number 1, which calls for the eradication of poverty”, President Coleiro Preca stated, further adding that gender parity would reduce poverty by 30%.
“We need to push forward for a change to happen”
She said that our education systems have to be open to gender parity and equity, in terms of understanding of the basic stumbling blocks that there are. She also said that empowerment and awareness, right across the board, are also important, adding that education and empowerment should target both girls and boys, because “we need to strive together to bring about effective equity and parity.”
The President appealed to each and every girl and woman out there to find ways to be able to network better and to also be determined and ambitious, once they understand that our world and our countries need their participation in whatever area or aspect.
President Coleiro Preca said that while it is good that a country takes legislative measures to increase female participation, this legislation needs to be effectively implemented using proper resources, such as the introduction of free childcare in Malta which had an immediate effect on female participation.
On the gender pay gap, the President said that this is a reality which needs to be addressed, and an issue about which we cannot be complacent. President Coleiro Preca said that following research that was carried out in Malta, it resulted that the gender pay gap gets worse with women who have high-quality jobs.
Lastly, she urged all those women who are in leadership positions to open up opportunities for girls to be mentored. In doing so “we can all help in their empowerment so that they will be the effective leaders of tomorrow.”
As part of her engagements in New York, President Coleiro Preca held bilateral meetings with Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank, and with Atifete Jahjaga, former President of the Republic of Kosovo. The President also met with Wendy Diamond, founder of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organisation, who presented the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Government Pioneer Award to President Coleiro Preca.