The stabbing to death of a woman has once again brought women’s issues to the forefront, with a prominent lawyer and director of Women’s Rights Foundation Lara Dimitrijevic saying that society has failed this woman and her children.
“We have blood on our hands,” Dimitrijevic said in a Facebook post today. “I spent most of the night thinking of how we have blood on our hands. Blood that we should have prevented, blood that should have never been shed. “
She was reacting after 34-year-old woman Chantelle Cchetcuti, mother of two girls, was stabbed with a kitchen knife on Sunday and died a day later.
Dimitrijevic said that, “the children’s lives have been ruined for ever, left motherless.”
“I cannot take anymore gibberish from those that try to exculpate murderers. There was no passion in any of this. And shame on you for saying so. Women are victims of violence from men, men that continue to feel superior, entitled, privileged.”
In her post, the lawyer addressed directly the professionals and the authorities. She said that, “I am tired of hearing professionals and authorities that are meant to protect women and prevent violence claiming that men are victims too! To them I ask once again, how many men have been murdered by women because women felt privileged and entitled? To them I ask, how many men have lived for months and even years in shelter because their husbands/partners continue to harass even while being in shelter?”
“But to you authorities, I ask, when are you going to assume responsibility for the blood shed on your hands? When are you seriously going to fully understand that violence against women is killing women?
I can go on and on, but I won’t because I am angry. This has to STOP!!”
The Malta’s Women’s Rights Foundation is encouraging everyone to change their Facebook profile pic. “To express our outrage at the violent murder of yet another woman at the hands of a man in her life, this week we will be using a profile picture with the hastags #endfemicide #onetoomany #protectwomenandgirls #endpatriarchy. We invite you to do so.”
Women politicians wrote on their Facebook page to show their anger about this murder.
PL MEP Miriam Dalli said that: “Domestic violence has no place in Malta. We need to stand up against this violence and make all the pressure needed so that our laws are stronger and our authorities realize that we need better enforcement. Killing a woman, a mother is totally unacceptable. We will not stand down and I for one will make sure that our voices are heard.”
PN MEP Roberta Metsola said that this situation must end. “ Do not be indifferent. We need laws and their proper enforcement to protect women. We need mechanisms that respond faster, and we need this scourge of our society to be tackled with the seriousness it deserves..”
Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rosianne Cutajar also wrote on the Facebook page. She said that, “Malta is in shock because another domestic violence murder happened. “ Cutajar said that, “killing can never be justified. Domestic violence is the third most common crime in Malta and I am sure there are a lot of women who are passing through the same situation and abuse. As a government we need to strengthen our laws and have harsher penalties.”
PN MP Claudette Buttigieg, wrote that "Chantelle is the first domestic violence victim this year This reality should be an eye opener on the realities which our society faces,”
PL MEP Josianne Cutajar said, “that the murder of Chantelle shocked me but if our society will not do anything in front of this reality we will have more and more victims. We need to fight the idea and mentality that your female partner is an object in the hands of the man. “