The ENGAGE Board acts as a civil society committee operating within the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).ENGAGE was first established as part of the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ( UNCRPD) , as such a convention has now been transposed into Maltese law. As part of this convention, it’s contents set out an obligation which binds governments to not only consult with , but involve persons with disabilities in the law making process, in relation to legislation which directly impacts their everyday lives.
To this end, this is precisely the aim which the ENGAGE Board seeks to fulfill, and exactly why it was created. ENGAGE seeks to ensure that the ethos of ‘ Nothing about us with us ‘ is translated from words, into practice. The board is made of persons with disabilities, and their representatives , with the board being convened regularly to discuss policy-related matters, and also review legislation which has been brought to it’s attention.
In this regard, the ENGAGE Board is primarily tasked with discussing and reviewing legislation , policy documents and other pressing matters pertaining to the disability sector. Such material is brought forward to ENGAGE before it is eventually presented to the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Parliament of Malta. Additionally, the ENGAGE Board also tackles policy documents which are also being addressed at an EU level as well, whilst liaising with local stakeholders throughout the course of it’s discussions.
