NCPE commends improvement in gender representation in ballot list

The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) believes that gender-balanced candidate lists are achievable through enough political commitment, citing candidate data as evidence of progress.

While the overall increase in women contesting the current general election was described as "limited but significant," the commission highlighted the Labour Party’s rise in female representation, with women now making up almost 40% of its total candidates. 

The full list of candidates for this election can be found here.

The NCPE noted that this increase reflects a conscious effort and long-term structural changes rather than coincidence. The commission also pointed to the ADPD as a milestone, noting it is the first party in recent history to be led by a woman.

Despite these gains, the NCPE stressed that Malta continues to face a "democratic deficit" regarding political representation. The commission identified several systemic obstacles that hinder women from entering politics, including unequal sharing of family responsibilities, exposure to sexist abuse, and reduced access to resources.

The NCPE is calling on political parties to move beyond traditional networks and implement internal gender-responsive reforms. The commission is recommending conducting internal gender audits, developing specific action plans, and ensuring balanced representation within party structures.

The commission further stressed the importance of providing non-incumbent candidates with enough resources and visibility, while proactively challenging the "male norms" that often dominate political discourse. 

“The NCPE augurs that all women candidates will be given a level playing field on which to put forward their vision and ideas, and that political parties will take this election as evidence that a more gender-balanced candidates’ list is possible when the necessary changes are implemented.”