‘Silence = Death’: Activists Rally In Valletta Over HIV Prevention Failures
Activists took to Valletta’s Parliament Square on Sunday for the second World AIDS Day demonstration, organised by a coalition of NGOs including Checkpoint Malta, MGRM, LGBTI+ Gozo, Moviment Graffitti, ARC, aditus, and Drachma.
The rally commemorated lives lost to AIDS while demanding accountability after what organisers described as a year of “silence and broken promises” from the government over HIV prevention.
Protesters staged a striking silent demonstration, wearing red scarves over their eyes, mouths, and ears to symbolise that HIV may be ignored, but it isn’t going away.
Drumming from Moviment Graffitti added to the dramatic message: despite assurances in the National Sexual Health Strategy that PrEP and PEP would be free and widely available, inaction has left these life-saving medications inconsistent and inaccessible across Malta and Gozo.
The coalition highlighted alarming statistics: a 65% rise in new HIV cases, with 754 people living with HIV in 2024, while newly diagnosed cases numbered 53.
The coalition is demanding immediate action, stressing that HIV is entirely preventable with timely access to PrEP/PEP and regular testing. “Enough is enough,” it said, urging the government to honour promises for free and accessible HIV prevention.
The rally reminded the public that HIV doesn’t discriminate, and that prevention and protection measures safeguard the entire community. Organisers called for a stronger, immediate response to end AIDS in Malta by 2030, insisting that silence equals death if access to prevention continues to be delayed.
How many more preventable HIV cases will it take before Malta makes PrEP and PEP truly accessible?
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