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The objective of this paper is to outline the level of political participation of Maltese women in local councils, national and European parliaments. When the level of participation of women in these political structures falls drastically below that of Maltese men – as in the case of national elections- this paper sets out to delineate what obstacles might prevent women’s representation at this level and what might need to be done to ensure that more women are elected. The paper takes into consideration the six possible areas of intervention proposed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in the baseline study entitled “Gender equality in elected office: a six-step action plan” (Norris and Krook, 2011), namely constitutional rights, electoral system, legal quotas, party rules and recruitment procedures, capacity development and parliamentary reform.

At the outset, the OSCE/ODIHR notes that the Law generally complies with international anti-corruption standards, as well as with relevant OSCE commitments. Some improvements may be considered, in particular: • no outside body or actor should control or influence the Bureau; • limiting the appointment of the Head of Bureau to a single term; • creation of one or more advisory committees; • mechanisms of the Bureau should be strengthened in the course of its investigations.

Address by the President of the Venice Commission, Mr. Gianni Buquicchio. Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Ralf Breth (Greece, Annex 1). Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1129 on the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (Ukraine, interpretative statement 1; United States of America, interpretative statement 2; Canada, interpretative statement 3; Russian Federation, interpretative statement 4). Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1130 on the deployment of OSCE observers to two Russian checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border (Ukraine, interpretative statement 1; United States of America, interpretative statement 2; United Kingdom, interpretative statement 3; Canada, interpretative statement 4; Austria, Annex 2). Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1131 on the theme, agenda and modalities for the Twenty-Third Economic and Environmental Forum. Ongoing violations of OSCE principles and commitments by the Russian Federation and the situation in Ukraine. Situation in Ukraine and the continuing violations of the norms of international humanitarian law during the punitive operation in eastern Ukraine. Abduction of Ukrainian servicewoman Ms. N. Savchenko. Case of Mr. A. Sodiqov in Tajikistan. Sentencing of Mr. H. Huseynli in Azerbaijan. Ongoing human tragedy in Gaza. Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liquidation of the Romani Camp at Auschwitz on 2 August 1944. Detention of Ukrainian journalist Mr. A. Skiba. Report on the activities of the Chairperson-in-Office. World Day against Trafficking in Persons, to be observed on 30 July 2014. Press release on the meetings between the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively.

754th Plenary Meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation

754th Plenary Meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation

1006th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions: Invitation to all Delegations to a Side Event on: “How to re-consolidate European security as a common project”? This Panel will provide an opportunity to informally address the current crisis of European security. There is no more “business as usual” in relations among OSCE participating States; instead there is a danger of further escalation of tensions, and even a new division in Europe. This panel will explore options for reconsolidating European security as a common project. In this context, the panel will also discuss how and under what conditions a dedicated reflection process by a high-level panel of eminent persons could make a difference to current efforts to address the crisis, and to what extend the OSCE could serve as a platform to support this process.

OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions: Invitation to all Delegations to a Side Event on: “How to re-consolidate European security as a common project”? This Panel will provide an opportunity to informally address the current crisis of European security. There is no more “business as usual” in relations among OSCE participating States; instead there is a danger of further escalation of tensions, and even a new division in Europe. This panel will explore options for reconsolidating European security as a common project. In this context, the panel will also discuss how and under what conditions a dedicated reflection process by a high-level panel of eminent persons could make a difference to current efforts to address the crisis, and to what extend the OSCE could serve as a platform to support this process.

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