Women’s Day Malta
Women’s Right to Vote in Malta
September 5, (1947)

Number of female heads of state to date: 3

The women’s right to vote in Malta has a relatively recent history compared to some other countries. It was in 1947 that women in Malta gained the right to vote and participate in the democratic process on equal terms with men.

The push for women’s suffrage in Malta began in the early 20th century, with women’s organizations and activists advocating for equal rights. The suffrage movement gained momentum, and women played an active role in raising awareness about gender equality and the importance of political participation.

In 1947, the Maltese Parliament passed the Women’s Suffrage Act, granting women over the age of 21 the right to vote and stand for election. This marked a significant milestone in women’s rights in Malta and reflected the growing recognition of women’s equality in the country.

With the right to vote, Maltese women began participating in the political process and exercising their democratic rights. They have since played an important role in shaping the political landscape of Malta. Women have held various political positions, including members of parliament, government ministers, and even serving as the country’s president.

Efforts have been made in Malta to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in politics. Policies and initiatives have been implemented to address gender disparities, increase women’s representation in decision-making positions, and encourage women’s participation in politics at all levels.

The introduction of gender quotas has been one measure to ensure a more balanced representation of women in politics. Political parties in Malta are encouraged to include a certain percentage of women on their candidate lists, promoting greater gender balance in elections.

The women’s right to vote in Malta represents a significant achievement in the country’s journey towards gender equality and democratic participation. It underscores the recognition of women as equal citizens and highlights the importance of their voices in shaping the nation’s future.

While progress has been made, there is still work to be done to further advance women’s political representation and address remaining challenges. Continued efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in Malta are essential to ensuring full and meaningful participation of women in politics and society as a whole.

LEAD is a new initiative launched by the Labour Party to increase female participation in Maltese Parliament

LEAD is being led by MEP Miriam Dalli, after the project was entrusted to her by Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party Joseph Muscat. On launching the project, Joseph Muscat said it does not sit right that half of the Maltese population is not fairly represented in terms of gender, commenting that the representation of women is so low that if one compared the situation to districts it was similar to having no representatives from the South of Malta, or the North of Malta.

This project aims to increase Labour’s female candidates to 50% by the 2027 General Election, it will be the party’s next step in the journey towards feminizing Maltese politics.

To give context to the urgency of the matter, not only on a national level but on a global level, there are only 11 women heads of Government (5.7%) and 11 women heads of state (7.2%) in the world.
lead.org.mt