One in every three women in the EU experienced physical or sexual violence – NGO
One in every three women in the EU has experienced physical or sexual violence, Moviment Graffitti said. “In Malta, the situation is no different.”
On Sunday, a march took place on International Women’s Day. This year, the slogan ‘Women’s Day Every Day’ is a reminder of the daily struggles women face in society.
“Women’s Day is not about chocolates and flowers; the first women’s march in 1909 grew out of the labour movement, with women demanding humane working hours, better pay and the right to vote. Today, International Women’s Day celebrates how far women’s rights have come, while demanding an end to the patriarchal structures keeping women from dignity, respect and liberation,” the NGO said.
The march, which is organised by Moviment Graffitti and endorsed by several organisations, ended in St. George’s Square with speeches from social justice groups and performances by: Angela & Andrew Vella Zarb, Kor ReSisters, Skimmed and REA.
“We regularly witness instances of patriarchal injustice, as violent men are released on bail over technicalities, while women are charged with abortion after being reported by abusive partners or healthcare professionals. While the past year has thankfully been void of new femicide victims, the countless commemorations of murdered women remind us of the ultimate price women pay at the hands of patriarchy,” the NGO said. “In increasing contexts, women around the globe – including in Iran, Palestine, Afghanistan and Sudan – have continued fighting for their rights amidst war and external powers that claim ‘feminist liberation’ to advance their colonial ideologies. Yet we must not fall into the trap of hopelessness. Let us march together to free ourselves from the shackles of patriarchy. Let us fight for our fallen sisters, in Malta and across the world. Let us feel the collective anger and be inspired by it,” it said before the event.
The organisations endorsing this march were: aditus foundation, Dance Beyond Borders, Department of Gender & Sexualities, UoM, Doctors for Choice, Humanists Malta, Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), Malta Women’s Lobby, Men Against Violence, Migrant Women Association Malta, Moviment Graffitti, IVY Interrupting Violence towards Youth, JC Diversity Committee, SOS Malta, Women Elevation Malta, Women for Women, Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF), Young Progressive Beings, Żminijietna Malta
RSS Feed Source: Independent Malta One in every three women in the EU experienced physical or sexual violence – NGO