For the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, once again, Moviment Graffitti YPB together with women from different organisations and from different walks of life organised a rally in Valletta to express their collective anger at the culture of violence that permeates our society. The theme chosen for this year is “Her Plight, Our Fight”, because the suffering, the oppression, the abuse, the murder of every woman in society make us stronger to continue fighting against this wound in our society.
In a statement, Moviment Graffitti highlighted that women are the worst victims of this abuse which goes beyond domestic violence – but also in the public sphere, such as when they are raped or killed in the street or public places, trafficked to work in the sex industry, abused by their employers, neglected by politicians, disrespected by the justice system, and ignored by the police and sent to their death by a society which does not care enough. Women are abused by men physically, sexually, morally, psychologically, economically, politically in their everyday lives because society is not doing enough to protect women and to fight the violence.
Malta has seen 32 women murdered by male aggressors, mostly intimate partners, over the past decades. “Until we confront this problem seriously and fight it with our might”, the group declared, “women, including trans women, will continue to live in fear and insecurity – whether on the streets, at work, or in their own homes.”
The protest was intended to be about solidarity but it also communicated a desire for something to change. Moviment Graffitti vowed to continue their fight for a safer Malta, urging the justice system to deliver swift and meaningful action, the police to prioritise women’s safety and society to hold aggressors accountable.
During the rally, demonstrators held banners and placards with messages against gender-based violence. There were also readings on the topic and a speech by a representative from Moviment Graffitti. Professor Marceline Naudi and Alessia Cilia, a sister of one of the victims also contributed to the activity.The activists also put up a symbolic visual installation to commemorate women who were victims of femicide in the past years in Malta
The rally was organised by Moviment Graffitti and YPB and endorsed by the following organisations:
aditus foundation
Dance Beyond Borders
Department of Gender and Sexualities
Fidem#
Humanists Malta
IVY – Interrupting Violence towards Youth
Malta Women’s Lobby
Marceline Naudi
MGRM
SOAR
Women for Women Foundation
Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF)
YMCA
Żminijietna Voice of the Left
News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster
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