The aditus Foundation has slammed V18 Artistic Director Mario Philip Azzopardi for his comment - where he called an activist a 'bitch' - and proceeded to call for his removal.

This pejorative comment by Azzopardi came days after v18 Chairman Jason Micallef was slammed for similar behaviour by PEN international writers, local renowned artists and 72 MEPs from across political groups. Azzopardi's 'bitch' comment was made on a post shared on Facebook by his colleague Sandro Kitcher, who is part of the 'Special Events' team of V18. Accompanied by a photograph of the activist, the post read 'This is Martina Urso who was the brains behind yesterday's event in London with the aim of dirtying Malta's name, be ashamed if you know how to be Martina, traitor, you are indebted to the Maltese and Gozitan population, Malta despises you!!'

Just yesterday, Azzopardi said that he was wrong in making such a comment.

Aditus, said: "In a society supposedly promoting equality, dignity and respect for fundamental human rights it is unacceptable that women are labelled 'sorry bitches'. Recent public comments made by V18 Artistic Director Mario Philip Azzopardi fly in the face of Malta's efforts at improving the way it treats all members of its society, particularly women."

"Mr. Azzopardi's disgusting insults might be his chosen method of expressing himself, yet they offend the laws, policies and values that secure the protection of all persons from vulgar insults intended to bully and intimidate. His disgusting language cannot be defended by a government that has just adopted legislation protecting all persons from gender-based violence. He must go."

"How would the government reacted had Mr. Azzopardi called a gay man 'sorry pufta' or a migrant 'sorry nigger'?" Neil Falzon, aditus foundation Director asked.

"aditus foundation condemns this horrid language, and urges the relevant public authorities to also express disgust at what is, essentially, an expression of verbal violence by a man holding public against a women exercising her fundamental rights. Anything short of an absolute condemnation amounts to endorsement. He must go."