Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Change
Celebrating strong and inspiring female figures especially in the local arena, Europe House welcomed leaders in business, politics, civil society and charity organisations, as well as female educators, students, artists, media professionals, and athletes. EP President Roberta Metsola headlined the event and shared anecdotes about her demanding life as a high-flying politician and mother to 4 boys. The occasion also kicked off Iranian artist Lida Sherafatmand’s exhibition of large, dainty, feminine paintings depicting abstract notions of peace, freedom, and gender equality.
Following a warm welcome by our head, Dr Mario Sammut, President Metsola was interviewed by moderator Claire Agius Ordway on her personal career development, her experiences as a woman in politics, and her ambitions to keep enshrining women’s rights into European law.
Interviewed live by Clare Agius Ordway, President Metsola said, "I am proud that after 10 years of constant pressure from the European Parliament, we finally agreed on legislation to promote the inclusion of women in decision-making positions. The Women on Boards Directive will require open and transparent recruitment procedures from companies across Europe to push towards greater presence of women on boards. In addition to this, and to combat the gender pay gap in the EU that still hovers at around 13%, we have introduced measures that will require employers to be open and transparent about the pay gap between female and male workers. To close it once and for all."
One of the distinguished guests was Isabelle Bonnici, Jean Paul Sofia's mother. President Metsola praised her courage to fight for justice for her son's untimely passing, also commenting on what she considered to be the most historic agreement of this mandate: the Directive on combatting violence against women.
While engaging with the women present and answering questions from the audience, she also highlighted the importance of women’s active involvement in influencing EU policies by casting their votes for direct representatives in the European elections in June this year.
"For the first time ever, there will be EU-wide rules on the criminalisation of certain forms of gender-based violence and better access to justice, protection and prevention. Victims need support. Aggressors must face punishment. Women deserve protection. And our ambition is to keep striving to make life better, safer, fairer and more equal. We will not waver. Of this I am sure," she said, shedding light on the EU’s transformative impact on women’s lives and gender equality.
The President subsequently inaugurated an art exhibition by Iranian-Maltese artist and human rights advocate Lida Sherafatmand. The exhibition, entitled "Symphony of Balance", is a collection of paintings on subjects of power and the ascension of women, in connection with the current situation in Iran. Lida elaborated on the origins of the surreal motifs in her artwork, closing off her intervention with a reading of a poem.
Inspired by her memories of war, revolution and persecution, Sherafatmand coined the artistic concept "florescencism", which refers to the flowers in her paintings representing the flourishing of an individual or a civilisation.
"We talked here about the importance of voting. In Iran women don’t have such a luxury as voting freely: women are persecuted for being women," President Metsola added. The EP is continuing its work with Iranian women after awarding them the Sakharov Prize in 2023, and this exhibition at Europe House, open until 22 March, will also be shown in Parliament’s main buildings.
The art exhibition is open to the general public at Europe House in Valletta from 8 to 22 March. Entrance is free, but presentation of an ID document to access the premises is required.