“Fight for women loud and clear” was the chant of many women who took part in a peaceful protest march going around Valletta on Sunday afternoon.

The protest was organised by NGOs Moviment Graffiti, Young Progressive Beings, and the Malta Gay Rights Movement on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women which is marked on 25 November every year.

The 25th of November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This year's focus revolved around the theme of "Resisting the Culture of Violence". Coined in the 1970s, the concept of a ‘culture of violence’ was forged to explain the normalisation of violence against women in all its forms: from physical and sexual to economic and psychological.

The march was initially scheduled for Saturday – the day that the occasion is officially marked – but was pushed backwards by a day due to inclement weather which hit the country.

Moviment Graffitti said that the aim of the protest was to strengthen awareness around the culture of violence against women, girls, transgender individuals, and those who do not identify with any gender in today’s society.

“Resistance to the culture of violence requires collective active which destroys the idea that a person is treated badly or as an object on the basis of their gender.  We must continue to challenge all the factors of society and culture that allow these injustices to happen,” the NGO said.

Many women marched around Valletta in the march which started at Triton Fountain, went down Republic Street, stopped in front of the Home Affairs Ministry and finally ended outside the Parliament building.

There, a short play was performed, which was also accompanied by a poem, themed around the concept of gender equality. The text centred around a female, wherein the audience is led on a journey through the parcourse of her life, highlighting how at times she wanted to be either a boy or a man just to avoid certain situations or to feel the presence of equality.

Addressing those present, gender studies professor Marceline Naudi said that “we need to change the culture that it’s okay or not a big deal when someone touches you without permission.”

She said that the country needs to also work on eliminating rape culture, “as it is not okay to blame the victim.”

Other activists also highlighted how in the last 23 years there were a total of 44 women killed, out of which 29 fall under the definition of femicide.

On the latest of such killings, and whose alleged killer is the first man to be charged with femicide, it was said how Bernice Cassar “did everything right and she was killed.”

On November 22, 2022, 40-year-old Bernice Cassar, from Qrendi, was killed in broad daylight at the Corradino Industrial Estate, Paola, where she worked, being shot twice after having been dragged out of her car.

Her husband Roderick Cassar pleaded not guilty to the charge of femicide.

“On Tuesday, we remembered and honoured Bernice Cassar, who last year was senselessly murdered by her partner. 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 domestic violence cases which are pending. What are we waiting for?,” Moviment Graffitti said prior to the protest.