‘Women still second-class citizens in Malta’, activists say in Women’s Day march

Women activists, feminists and other demonstrators rallied in Valletta on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day, highlighting basic rights issues still faced by women in Malta.

Dozens of people, many carrying placards, marched down Republic Street in Valletta on Sunday morning calling for an end to sexism and violence against women, chanting slogans.

The event titled “Women’s Day every day: Less words more action” was organised on Sunday morning by Moviment Graffiti, Young Progressive Beings, the Women’s Rights Foundation and Doctors for Choice. Several politicians and political candidates were present.

It comes just over a week after Rita Ellul, a 47-year old mother and grandmother was murdered in Għajnsielem. Her 30-year-old partner Lawrence Abina, is pleading not guilty after he was arraigned in court on Tuesday, charged with her murder.

The murder of Rita Ellul comes just weeks after the rape and murder of Paulina Dembska in Sliema. A 20-year-old man, Abner Aquilina, has denied guilt after he was charged with the murder in January.

A number of speakers addressed the crowd outside the law courts.

Angele Deguara from Moviment Graffitti and Natalie Psalia from Doctors for Choice spoke about the difficulties women currently face and the need to fight for women and human rights. “This is why we need to move from words to facts,” Deguara said.

Women’s Rights Foundation chairperson Lara Dimitrijevic said women’s struggle for equality and the right to live a life free of violence has still a long way to go.

“Every day, everywhere women live through sexism and harassment that comes with it, in their schools, places of work and in the streets.

“Every day, everywhere women are trafficked, bought and sold into sexual slavery, unable to satisfy unquenchable thirst for their bodies. Every day, everywhere women are denied control over their own bodies, denied access to abortion and reproductive health, denied a choice and the right to decide how to live their lives.

“Every day, everywhere women are called names, stalked, harassed, beaten and bruised, sexually assaulted, raped and killed, way too often by the men in their lives who say that they love them. All that is part of what being women and experiencing living a life as a women is.”

It was eight days since Malta’s last femicide, the killing of Rita Ellul, which followed the equally senseless murder of Paulina Dembska. “Their deaths serve as disturbing reminders of the world we live in, of the attitudes we face, of the dangers posed by both familiar faces and strangers alike,” said Emily Galea, from Young Progressive Beings.

“I would like to take this opportunity to bring awareness to the microaggressions, to the complacency, and to the ignorance that allows such violence to take root and flourish. Until gender injustice is corrected, until the rotting roots are treated, we will not witness true change.”

Galea said she was 11 years old when she was first catcalled, and 15 when she was sexually harassed at work during her first summer job. “How many more young girls will be robbed of the opportunity to be a child, at the hands of sexual objectification? How many more young girls will be taught to feel guilty over crimes enacted against them?

“How many more young girls will be blamed for attracting harassment on the basis of their attire, looks, or whereabouts? How many more young girls will be taught that their value comes from their body, yet if they use it they’re a slut, and if they don’t they’re a prude?”

Dr Natalie Psaila from Doctors for Choice said in Malta governments and laws treated women as second-class citizens.

“No contraceptives are given for free and women are expected to shell out expenses themselves.

“Access to the morning-after pill is limited and this pill cannot be bought from the hospital pharmacy

that’s open 24/7. Once a girl or a woman becomes pregnant, she must complete that pregnancy, even against her wishes because abortion is illegal under all circumstances. Any means that offer the woman control over her reproductive life are difficult or impossible.

“We live in a state that forces women into a sequence of events, where first she’s trapped into becoming pregnant and then she must give birth. This country doesn’t care about the woman’s mental state, her social circumstances or her financial affairs. It doesn’t even care if she’s at risk to die as a result of her pregnancy. The woman is told, ‘You shouldn’t have become pregnant. This is your own fault and you must now face the consequences’.”