‘What Are We Waiting For?’: Feminist Activists March In Valletta On International Day For Elimination Of Violence Against Women
Activists, allies, and members of the general public marched through Valletta in a protest organised by Moviment Graffitti , Young Progressive Beings (YPB) and MGRM yesterday.
At the end of the protest, a powerful performance showcased poignant examples of violence which was held in front of Parliament.
The protest was scheduled to be held on 25th November which marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women however it was rescheduled due to the bad weather on Saturday.
The march was used to raise awareness of the pervasive culture of violence against women, girls, trans and non-binary people in our society.
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This year’s focus revolved around the theme of “Resisting the Culture of Violence”.
“The grim reality persists nowadays—violence against women, trans, and non-binary individuals thrives within our society, disguised beneath the veneer of ‘jokes’ or ‘compliments’,” Moviment Graffitti said.
“From unwanted sexual attention to cyber harassment, from objectifying comments to stalking and more, these forms of violence infiltrate daily life, perpetuated by societal attitudes that excuse, dismiss, or worse, encourage such behaviours,” the group added.
“Never was this clearer than on Wednesday, when we remembered and honoured Bernice Cilia, who last year was murdered in cold blood, a victim of femicide,” the activists said while remembering last year’s murder.
“Our anger and disappointment at the culture and system which allowed her death to happen is still as present as ever. Even today, there are still well over 2,200 other domestic violence cases which are pending. What are we waiting for?,” the group emphasised in their statement.
Moviment Graffitti reiterated the need for collective action to confront the culture of violence while advocating against the acceptance of mistreatment or objectification on the basis of gender.
Did you attend yesterday’s protest?
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