Training in equality issues for good governance

A Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) training programme on Equality Issues for Good Governance in the Malta and Cyprus Public Services was recently held in St Julian's, Malta.

The three-day workshop was sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, and took place from 5 to 7 December 2006.

Organised by Malta's National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, the workshop attracted about 40 senior officials from Cyprus and Malta.

The participants were sensitised to equality and non-discrimination issues, thereby creating an awareness of support strategies for the incorporation of non-discriminatory analysis in public policy-making and implementation. This enabled the promotion of an effective, transparent and accountable public service that ensures equality and diversity for good governance and sustainable development.

"This workshop provided participants with a thorough understanding of the equality legislation that is in force in the European Union and the means to implement it," said Richard Gold, Interim Director of the Secretariat's Governance and Institutional Development Division.

"The workshop offered a platform for sharing experiences and identifying best practices from the region that could be shared in the Commonwealth. Discussions revolved around enhancing the principle of inclusion in the public service and making public policy work more efficiently on promoting equality issues."

Dr RoseMarie Endeley, the Division's Adviser on the Caribbean and Mediterranean, added: "This programme contributed to the enhancement of the participation of minority individuals in socio-political and economic decision-making processes. It also helped them to develop executive management skills for equality-related advocacy and policy development. Another aim was to promote awareness of gender-responsive public expenditure and management."

Key Links:

• Governance
• CFTC
• Country Profile: Cyprus
• Country Profile: Malta