As the country marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Moviment Graffitti is calling on the public to join a demonstration on Sunday 23rd November at 4pm, in front of the Law Courts, Valletta. The event will include a short march from the Law Courts, speeches by MGRM, Moviment Graffitti, and members of the Voice for Choice coalition, a poem by Klara Vassallo, and musical contributions from Kor Re-sisters and singer Ana Milenaria.

We are taking to the streets because violence against women does not simply show up in isolated incidents – it is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Our society is permeated by a culture of verbal violence: hateful and sexist comments on social media, cat calling, demeaning insults meant to belittle and intimidate. These actions are too often dismissed as trivial, when in truth they form part of the same continuum of patriarchal violence that harms, silences, and kills. Only by naming this violence and confronting it directly can we hope to eradicate it.

We also want to shine a light on the violence – physical and psychological – that takes place inside homes, behind closed doors, in workplaces, in schools, and in our institutions. The trauma inflicted by femicides wounds us individually and collectively. We will remember the women whose lives were taken in recent years and we will say their names.

Recent updates in the Bernice Cilia court case remind us that even when the perpetrator receives the maximum sentence, nothing can repair the loss suffered. Her case demonstrates clearly that when justice is delayed, justice is never truly restorative. We also recall the case of Chantelle Chetcuti, stabbed to death five years ago, whose family is still waiting for a trial date – a stark example of a system failing victims and survivors alike.

On 23rd November, we invite the public to join us in a united, collective stand against patriarchal violence. These international dates matter because they offer a moment to renew our resolve, amplify our voices, and demand real change. Bring your placards, your solidarity, and your loudest voices – together we will form one powerful front against violence.

Endorsing organisations:
Aditus Foundation
ARC
Caritas Malta
Doctors for Choice
IVY – Interrupting Violence towards Youth
Malta Women’s Lobby
Marie Louise Coleiro
Men Against Violence
MGRM
Migrant Women Association Malta
Moviment Graffitti
Women for Women Foundation
Women’s Rights Foundation
YMCA
YPB
Żminijietna – Voice of the Left

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Vuċi Waħda Kontra l-Vjolenza Patrijarkali

Hekk kif il-pajjiż se jkun qiegħed ifakkar il-Jum Internazzjonali għall-Qerda tal-Vjolenza kontra n-Nisa, il-Moviment Graffitti qed isejjaħ lill-pubbliku biex jingħaqad miegħu għal dimostrazzjoni nhar il-Ħadd 23 ta’ Novembru fl-4pm, quddiem il-Qorti, il-belt Valletta. L-attività se tinkludi marċ qasir mill-Qorti, diskorsi mill-MGRM, Moviment Graffitti, u membri tal-koalizzjoni Voice for Choice, poeżija ta’ Klara Vassallo, u kontribuzzjonijiet mużikali minn Kor Re-sisters u l-kantanta Ana Milenaria.

Se ninżlu fit-toroq għax il-vjolenza kontra n-nisa mhijiex sempliċement serje ta’ inċidenti iżolati – hija minsuġa fil-ħajja tagħna ta’ kuljum. Is-soċjetà tagħna hija ddominata minn kultura ta’ vjolenza verbali: kummenti mimlijin mibegħda u sessiżmu fuq il-midja soċjali, fastidju, insulti li jnaqqsu d-dinjità tal-mara. Dawn l-atti ħafna drabi jiġu miċħuda jew meqjusa bħala trivjali, meta fil-verità huma parti mill-istess kontinwum ta’ vjolenza patrijarkali li tweġġa’, issikket, u toqtol. Huwa biss meta nsemmgħu leħinna b’vuċi waħda dwar din il-vjolenza u naffaċċjawha direttament li nistgħu nittamaw li xi darba neqirduha.

Irridu wkoll nitfgħu dawl fuq il-vjolenza – fiżika u psikoloġika – li sseħħ ġewwa d-djar, wara l-bibien magħluqa, fuq il-post tax-xogħol, fl-iskejjel, u fl-istituzzjonijiet tagħna. It-trawma kkawżata mill-femmiċidji tweġġagħna individwalment u kollettivament. Waqt id-dimostrazzjoni se nkunu qegħdin infakkru lin-nisa li nqatlu fis-snin riċenti u se ngħidu isimhom.

L-iżviluppi reċenti fil-kawża tal-qorti ta’ Bernice Cilia jfakkruna li anke meta l-qattiel jirċievi l-massimu tal-piena tal-ħans, xejn ma jista’ jpatti għat-telfa ta’ persuna maħbuba. Il-każ tagħha juri b’mod ċar li meta l-ġustizzja tibqa’ mdendla, qatt ma jista’ jkun hemm’ verament ġustizzja reparattiva. Niftakru wkoll fil-każ ta’ Chantelle Chetcuti, maqtula b’daqqiet ta’ sikkina ħames snin ilu, li l-familja tagħha għadha tistenna data għas-smigħ tal-kawża – eżempju qawwi ta’ sistema li qed tfalli lill-vittmi u lil dawk li jħallu warajhom.

Nhar it-23 ta’ Novembru, nistiednu lill-pubbliku jingħaqad magħna b’vuċi waħda magħquda, kollettiva kontra l-vjolenza patrijarkali. Dawn id-dati internazzjonali huma importanti għax joffru okkażjoni biex nerġgħu nsaħħu r-rieda tagħna, insemmgħu leħinna, u nsejħu għal bidla vera. Ġibu magħkom il-plakards, is-solidarjetà, u l-iktar leħen b’saħħtu li għandkom biex flimkien inkunu front wieħed qawwi kontra l-vjolenza.

Organizzazzjonijiet li qegħdin jappoġġjaw din id-dimostrazzjoni:
Aditus Foundation
ARC
Caritas Malta
Doctors for Choice
IVY – Interrupting Violence towards Youth
Malta Women’s Lobby
Marie Louise Coleiro
Men Against Violence
MGRM
Migrant Women Association Malta
Moviment Graffitti
Women for Women Foundation
Women’s Rights Foundation
YMCA
YPB
Żminijietna – Voice of the Left