A march in celebration of Women’s Day was held at Valletta Sunday morning, organized by NGOs Moviment Graffitti, Young Progressive Beings, Women's Rights Foundation and Doctors for Choice.

The event, which was named “Jum il-Mara Kuljum,” attracted crowds of all ages and genders as they joined the groups in a march around Valletta with signs and placards advocating for women’s rights and gender equality. A band was present playing music during the march, and chanting the words, “Daqshekk, daqshekk, Vjolenza fuq in-nisa,” translating to “enough, enough, violence against women.”

Following the march, the crowd gathered in front of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Memorial where speeches were given by the NGOs.

Moviment Graffitti representative Angele Deguara said that Women's Day is not a holiday nor a celebration, but a day to reflect on the achievements that women have made over the centuries despite the social, political, religious, and cultural issues that have always tried to keep them in place.

She added that women in the past were deprived of certain rights and would have had to get permission from the males in their lives to do something, such as signing documents and opening bank accounts.

While acknowledging that women’s rights progressed over the years, she said that there is still a lot to be done to address issues such as unequal representation in higher roles of society and crucial concerns of reproductive health. Deguara expressed concern over the two femicide cases which have already happened this year, noting that Malta must do more to protect women.

Young Progressive Beings representative Emily Galea paid tribute to Paulina Dembska and Rita Ellul, two women who have been killed on the grounds of femicide, she said.

“Violence against women is not a women’s problem. It is a societal issue that requires every individual to be held accountable and hold the world to a better standard. It is about using privilege as a tool to achieve equity,” Galea said. She condemned the harassment and objectification of girls and women.

Natalie Psaila from Doctors for Choice noted that none of the contraception in the country is free, and one cannot buy the emergency contraceptive pill at Mater Dei’s 24-hour pharmacy.

She condemned the fact that women may suffer a prison sentence should they try to terminate their pregnancies as abortion is still illegal in Malta.

“In the patriarchal Maltese society, even the government and our laws treat women as second-class citizens, objects or incubators,” Psaila said, noting that once a girl or a woman becomes pregnant, she must complete that pregnancy, even when it is against her wishes, due to the current laws.

Women’s Rights Foundation chair Lara Dimitrijevic said that women suffer through sexism and harassment that comes with it, in their schools, places of work and in the streets. “Women are underpaid, unrepresented, undervalued and unappreciated,” she said.

Dimitrijevic went on to say that women continue to rise against oppression, showing strength and resilience at the face of violence, abuse, stereotypes, prejudice and unjust laws.