Public Consultation Feedback: EU-Cabo Verde Fisheries Agreement and Protocol – Way forward

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA, registered voluntary organization VO1323 - Malta) submitted its feedback to the European Commission's public consultation "EU-Cabo Verde Fisheries Agreement and Protocol – Way forward"

"MSA emphasizes that the entire policy process should employ social impact assessments in an ongoing process.

 The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.

 An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises: To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

 In this regard, you may refer to international SIA standards, for example those set by the International Association for Impact Assessment". 

Reference: Frank Vanclay (2003) International Principles For Social Impact Assessment, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 21:1, 5-a12, DOI: 10.3152/147154603781766491.

Press Release: Malta Sociological Association holds its Annual General Meeting

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) held its annual general meeting and elected its committee for the current year.

During the meeting, MSA priorities for this year were highlighted. These include the setting up of a public directory of sociologists and interested members; public engagement on the role of sociology as an evidence-based tool for dialogue and policy-making; the holding of academic and social events; and incentives for members. 

The committee for this year is as follows:

Chairperson: Bridget Borg
Vice-Chairperson: Mariella Debono
Secretary: Maria C. Borg
Treasurer: Julian Micallef
Public Relations & Outreach Officer: Michael Briguglio
International Relations Officer: Ljiljana Cumura
Events & Training Officer: Brian Chircop

Committee Members: Valerie Visanich, Alan Seychell

The MSA is a non-profit making organisation. It is a non-commercial entity, which aims to develop and promote sociological knowledge. The Association promotes sociological research and contributes toward facilitating the cooperation of people working within the sociological field. It also aims at understanding and analysing social problems for the improvement of the quality of life.

More information about the Malta Sociological Association, including membership options, social media links, upcoming events, seminars and activities, may be obtained from www.maltasociologicalassociation.com

Press Release: A comprehensive approach to mental health

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) welcomed the European Commission's public consultation on a comprehensive approach to mental health.

In its feedback to the European Commission, the MSA emphasized the following:

-The need to utilise social-scientific tools to explore, analyse and acknowledge various dimensions of mental health;

- The need to ensure that policies cater for diverging needs and realities, whilst being inclusive, flexible, equitable and non-discriminatory;

- The need to factor in social determinants such as class background, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, which may influence the opportunities and outcomes of persons with mental health challenges as well as and carers and significant others;

- The need to invest in social capital so as to ensure that persons experiencing a lack of social networks are not socially excluded;

- The need for a comprehensive EU policy that fosters the provision of public state of the art care, services and products EU-wide;

- The need to involve lifelong learning, at all stages of one's lived experience of mental health challenges, so as to help fulfil and express peoples potential;

- The need to employ social impact assessments to inform evidence-based policy making. Recommended applicable standards for SIA include those of the International Association for Impact Assessment; and

- The need to ensure that workers in the field of Mental Health have decent job conditions.

Link to MSA representation:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13676-A-comprehensive-approach-to-mental-health/feedback_en?p_id=31778767

Press Release: Towards Safer Transport in Malta: Sociologists submit proposals

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) welcomed the public consultation on transport safety in Malta, comprising a proposal for the setting up of a Transport Safety Investigation Commission.

 In its feedback to the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, MSA said

MSA believes that  social-scientific tools should be used to explore, analyse and acknowledge various dimensions of  transport safety. This includes ongoing social impact assessments to inform evidence-based policy making. Recommended applicable standards for SIA include those of the  International Association for Impact Assessment.

 

The MSA emphasizes the importance of safe and accessible pavements and the implementation of standards in this regard. We are drawing attention that so far the public consultation document mentions pedestrians as vulnerable road users in a footnote once.  The communication could propose a bureau which will be responsible for ensuring safety of pedestrians (as in transport on foot), having the responsibility to review the suitability of pedestrian infrastructure (pavements, street crossings, street lighting etc), and ensuring accessibility of pedestrian areas (that these are free from encroachment of vehicles - such as scooters and parked cars/motorcycles, private sector interests, addressing effect of bins on pavements etc). 

 

The MSA is also proposing that the Transport Safety Commission should include representatives from related disciplines in academia, civil society, local/regional authorities and related professions. 

 

Finally, the MSA is referring to social-scientific research carried out by Kimberly Nicholas and Pauld Kuss at the Lund University for Sustainability Studies and published in ‘Case Studies on ‘Transport Policy’, which measures the effect of various initiatives to reduce urban car use whilst improving quality of life and people’s sustainable mobility.

 

Their study analyses 800 peer-reviewed studies throughout Europe published since 2010, and it consequently ranks the 12 most effective measures that European cities have introduced in recent decades, The main conclusion of the research is that to “improve health outcomes, meet climate targets and create more liveable cities, reducing car use should be an urgent priority”.

 

The study recommends the 12 best ways to reduce city car use, namely Congestion charges; Parking and traffic controls; Limited traffic zones; Mobility services for commuters; Workplace parking charges; Workplace travel planning; University travel planning; Mobility services for universities; Car sharing; School travel planning; Personalised travel plans; and Apps for sustainable mobility. One can access more details on each policy through the respective article, which is available online. A summary of the study can be found at: https://theconversation.com/12-best-ways-to-get-cars-out-of-cities-ranked-by-new-research-180642

Annual General Meeting - Malta Sociological Association

    

The Annual General Meeting of the Malta Sociological Association will be held on Friday 10th March 2023 at 18:30. The meeting is open to paid members of the MSA and those interested in joining the MSA (payments can be affected on the day). Members interested in joining the meeting should inform us by the 27^th February by replying to this email.  Members are encouraged to renew their membership. More details re renewal of membership can be accessed through this link http://www.maltasociologicalassociation.com/2019/10/join-malta-sociological-association.html. 

Members are also invited to come forward with any proposals regarding the amendment of statute of the organisation so that these may be inserted in the agenda of the meeting accordingly. Kindly send these by return email to maltasociologicalassociation@gmail.com. 

    

Self-nominations for specific positions on the Executive Committee may be sent to maltasociologicalassociation@gmail.com and need to be addressed to the Secretary. The subject of the email should be: Nominations MSA Committee. Nominations will be received until the 27^th February 2022. Only paid members of the MSA may submit a nomination for the Executive Committee.   

    

The positions that need to be filled are the following:   

    

• Chairperson   

• Vice Chairperson   

• Secretary  

• Treasurer 

• Public Relations Officer    

• Events Officer   

• Outreach Officer   

• Training Officer   

• International Relations Officer   

  

The AGM will be held in Floriana. Venue will be announced closer to date.  Those attending are welcome to join for drinks after the meeting. 

Sociologists submit proposals for Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) has submitted its feedback to the Government with respect to the public consultation on Sustainable Development Strategy 2050.
 
“On a macro-level, the MSA believes that over-dependence on construction/land development should be a cause for concern. Malta should look towards more sustainable economic models.”
 
“The MSA is also proposing that all industrial and construction activities include a plan identifying any negative impact on society/environment resulting from such activities and how the relevant private interests will mitigate against these as well as contribute positively to society in general”.
 
“The MSA is calling for an extension of the Green Leaders initiative and for the mainstreaming of accessibility in the strategy. One everyday example of this, which is not given enough importance in Malta’s policy process, is the need for accessible pavements.”
 
“The MSA also emphasizes that extensive deliberation and Social Impact Assessments should be mainstreamed in Malta’s policy process in general, not least in the Sustainable Development Strategy for 2050.”
 
 
Related links:
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2023-01-05/blogs-opinions/Sustainable-development-2050-6736248624
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-12-22/blogs-opinions/Green-leaders-for-sustainable-development-6736248389
https://www.socialimpactassessment.com/documents/IAIA%202015%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment%20guidance%20document.pdf  

St Albert College: MSA calls for Social Impact Assessment

Kindly find below feedback of the Malta Sociological Association to the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), calling for an ongoing Social Impact Assessment in response to the call for consultation regarding the construction of St Albert the Great Community College.

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With reference to the consultation PA 01123/20 (EA 00021/20), and which may be accessed through this link, the Malta Sociological Association (registered VO 1323) proposes that the Environment Impact Assessment includes a Social Impact Assessment as an ongoing process.

 

The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.

 

An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises: To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

 

In this regard, you may refer to international SIA standards, for example those set by the International Association for Impact Assessment, which is accessible from this link:

 

https://www.socialimpactassessment.com/documents/IAIA%202015%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment%20guidance%20document.pdf  

 

Reference: Frank Vanclay (2003) International Principles For Social Impact Assessment, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 21:1, 5-a12, DOI: 10.3152/147154603781766491