More women are needed in leadership roles, says Charmaine Mangion 

Charmaine Mangion, Founder and CEO of Magic Castle Waldorf Childcares, and winner of the National Young Business Woman of the Year 2020/2021 at the Malta Business Women Awards (MBWA), recently highlighted the importance of increasing female representation in leadership roles during the yearly Social Justice Conference.

Reflecting on her speech at the conference, Ms Mangion emphasised the strong link between women’s rights and social justice, tracing the fight for equality from the right to vote to today’s ongoing efforts to address gender-based inequality.

“Social justice means ensuring that every woman, every girl, and every member of the community has equal access to education, employment, and a life free from discrimination and violence,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post summarising her key messages from the event.

Ms Mangion also shed light on the work being done by the Consultative Council for Women’s Rights (CCWR), which is actively developing concrete proposals in collaboration with NGOs, academics, and key stakeholders. This collaborative approach is vital, she noted, to drive meaningful change in the area of gender equality and social justice.

A key point Ms Mangion raised during her address was the urgent need for more women in leadership roles across sectors. “Decisions should reflect the experiences and perspectives of women, not just as a matter of fairness, but because diverse leadership leads to better outcomes,” she asserted.

However, increasing female leadership representation is not the only challenge. Ms Mangion pointed out that work-life balance continues to disproportionately affect women, who often juggle primary caregiving responsibilities alongside their professional roles. Addressing this imbalance requires practical solutions, cultural shifts, and policies that promote equal responsibility between genders, she stressed.

The discussion also touched on the persistent threat of gender-based violence. Ms Mangion highlighted the importance of existing initiatives, including the national strategy spearheaded by the commission, Malta’s commitment to the Istanbul Convention, and the expansion of Domestic Violence hubs. These measures are helping, but more work remains to be done, particularly in expanding services to Gozo and using technology to improve accessibility and immediate protection for victims, she added.

Ms Mangion also underscored the importance of taking an intersectional approach, acknowledging that women with disabilities, elderly women, and others facing multiple forms of discrimination often encounter unique challenges that must be specifically addressed.

The Consultative Council for Women’s Rights, she explained, plays a central role in supporting these efforts, working closely with the Human Rights Directorate to implement the Gender Equality Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plan (GEMSEP). Ms Mangion noted that the council also maintains ongoing consultations with Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg, and continuously engages with NGOs and council members to ensure that policy proposals reflect the real needs of women in Malta.

“Progress takes time, but with continued commitment and collaboration, we can create real and lasting change,” Ms Mangion concluded.