NCW Annual General Meeting 2026

NCW AGM 2026 – Promoting Empowerment and Leadership

The Annual General Meeting of the National Council of Women was held on Saturday 31^st January 2026, at The Victoria Hotel, Sliema.

NCW Hon General Secretary Dr Daniela Cassola, presented the Annual Report for 2025 highlighting the important initiatives carried out at National, European and International level, which also included UN and Commonwealth participation which reflected the contribution of NCW in the global scenario.

NCW participated in national discussions on key social issues affecting women, families, and community wellbeing. During 2025 the NCW issued a number of public statements and press releases, including the reaction to the National Budget, as well as concerns related to a number of issues such second-hand smoke, and the impact of traffic. NCW also expressed its opposition to the legalisation of euthanasia and called for a national commitment to quality palliative care, while emphasising the ethical and societal implications of end-of-life policy choices. NCW also participated in discussions linked to Envision 2050, and consultations on the introduction of miscarriage leave.

Mary Gaerty, the newly elected President urged young women to venture further and choose careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). She also highlighted the fact that the National Council of Women is looking ahead at the constant changes in a global world, not least in the digital transformation and this is reflected in the 2026 resolutions.

President Mary Gaerty encouraged women to make their choices and decisions based on reliable and researched information and ensured that throughout 2026 NCW will focus on supporting and inspiring women to step confidently into leadership roles.

Guest speaker Ms Mary Buttigieg Said, from the Malta Midwives Association, gave a presentation on ‘Reducing Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) to protect health in Malta’. She emphasised that EDCs are substances that may interfere with the hormonal system and are increasingly associated with various adverse health outcomes across the life cycle. She made the audience aware that exposure to everyday products which includes certain plastics, food contact materials, personal care and beauty products, household cleaning products, pesticides and industrial pollutants can be harmful to all.

In a highly interactive debate with members of the Assembly, the Meeting discussed and approved a number of resolutions, which will form the basis of NCW’s commitments for 2026 which included: Combatting all Forms of Harassment; Promoting Equitable World Peace with Respect for Cultural and Religious Differences; Empowering Women in the Age of New Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities; Supporting Parents of Young Children in a Digital World and Strengthening Protections from Online Harms; Reducing Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors to Protect Health in Malta; and Ethical Media Portrayal of Victims of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence.

The NCW Executive Committee for 2026 includes President Mary Gaerty, Hon. General Secretary Marie Demicoli, Vice Presidents: Dr Daniela Cassola, Doreen Borg Zammit and Sarah Scerri, Hon. Treasurer Therese Cassola, Members: Mary Buttigieg Said, Gertrude Abela, Lara Gail Dougall, Tiziana Gatt, Natalie Padovani and Grace Attard, Ex-Officio Hon. General Secretary Doris Bingley and Office Secretary Gracianne Spiteri.