Fit-taqlib li qed naraw dan l-aħħar speċjalment f’diversi pajjiżi nindunaw kemm id-drittijiet li nkunu rbaħna u drajna bihom jistgħu jittieħdulna f’tebqa t’għajn. Huwa għalhekk li jiem bħal tal-lum – Jum il-Mara –  huwa tajjeb li nfakkruhom, mhux biss biex naraw fejn wasalna u xi ksibna s’issa, imma wkoll x’jonqos li jsir. Dwar Malta u s-sitwazzjoni tal-mara għad baqa ħafna xi jsir speċjalment dwar il-ħarsien tagħha mill-vjolenza tal-ġeneru, id-differenza fil-pagi (gender pay gap), is-saħħa riproduttiva u l-ħtieġa li jkollna aktar nisa f’pożizzjonijiet ta’ responsabbiltà. Dawn qaluh kelliema ta’ ADPD-The Green Party f’konferenza tal-aħbarijiet fl-okkażjoni ta’ Jum il-Mara fil-Belt Valletta dalgħodu.

Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party, Dr. Melissa Bagley qalet li l-pjaga tal-vjolenza domestika u l-vjolenza a bażi tal-ġeneru għadha magħna. Ir-rapporti ta’ vjolenza domestika skont il-Eurostat huma ta’ 48.2% tat-total tal-każijiet stmati f’sena, l-ogħla rata ta’ rappurtaġġ fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Hija ċifra li turi li n-nies qegħdin jirrappurtaw aktar u li l-ħidma li saret biex il-vittmi jifmhu l-ħtieġa li jirrappurtaw qegħda tagħti l-frott. Imma hemm bżonn ħafna aktar xi jsir biex nipproteġu lill-vittmi tal-vjolenza domestika. Bosta qed ikunu dawk li jisfaw vittmi imma jibqgħu bla ġustizzja. Każijiet bħal ta’ Bernice Cassar ifakkruna kemm għadna lura milli nipproteġu l-vittmi anke meta dawn ikunu għamlu r-rapporti kollha f’waqthom u mxew kontinwament b’attenzjoni. Hemm ukoll il-każ ta’ Chantelle Chetcuti fejn l-allegat qattiel tagħha għadu jiġri mas-saqajn u qiegħed jgħix ħajja normali qisu qatt ma ġara xejn, b’periklu għal ħaddieħor.

Għandna bżonn ġustizzja li turi aktar snienha ma’ dawn il-qattiela u tagħti aktar importanza lill-karbiet ta’ għajnuna u ‘l-ħajja tal-vittmi. Il-vittma ta’ vjolenza teħtieġ network ta’ għajnuna aktar b’saħħtu li jista’ jipproteġiha u li jħajjarha aktar kemm li tirrapporta kif ukoll li titbiegħed malajr minn sitwazzjonijiet ta’ vjolenza. Hemm bżonn isir aktar investiment fix-xelters li jipproteġu ‘l-vittmi kif ukoll li jkollna sistema aktar iffokata biex tgħin lill-vittma li ħafna drabi taħrab b’ta’ fuqha senduqha u mhux dejjem ikollha aċċess għal dak kollu li tkun ħalliet warajha.

Sandra Gauci, Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party qalet li biex il-mara f’pajjiżna tkun aktar imħarsa hemm bżonn ta’ viżjoni ċara dwar dak li hemm bżonn, inkluż il-leġiżlazzjoni meħtiega. Il-parlament għandu l-obbligu li jħares ‘il-vittmi. Hija staqsiet: kemm mill-membri parlamentari jitkellmu dwar dan? Hija xi ħaġa li jiftakru fiha darba fis-sena għax Jum il-Mara u mbagħad tintesa sakemm ma jkunx hemm xi każ gravi? Hija staqsiet jekk il-fatt li kellna kwoti ta’ mekkaniżmu tal-ġeneru għall-parlament għenx biex aktar jissemmew temi li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ vjolenza domestika jew vjolenza a bażi ta’ ġeneru u temi fuq is-saħħa riproduttiva tal-mara?

Hemm bżonn li n-nisa li hemm fil-parlament juru aktar ħeġġa biex jitkellmu u jpoġġu aktar fuq quddiem problemi fejn ħafna drabi l-vittmi jkunu nisa. L-iskop kollu ta’ mekkaniżmu ta’ diskriminazzjoni kellu jservi mhux biss biex aktar nisa jsibu posthom fil-parlament, imma, biex riżultat ta’ hekk temi li huma strettament relatati mal-benesseri tan-nisa jingħataw aktar importanza fil-ħidma parlamentari. Imma milli rajna s’issa dan ma sarx. It-top-up ta’ sitt nisa fuq kull naħa tal-Parlament mhux biss ma għenx biex ikollna aktar temi femminili fuq l-aġenda imma lanqas biss ingħataw responsabbiltajiet la fil-parlament u lanqas fil-kabinett. Mela allura x’kien l-iskop? Għax ċertament ma kienx hemm bżonn il-mekkanizmu biex ikun hemm min isaħħan is-siġġu, għax hemm biżżejjed minnhom fil-Parlament!

Għandna bzonn iktar nisa fil-Parlament. Imma l-mekkanizmu tal-ġeneru m’għandux jibqa’ mfassal b’mod li trid tkun bilfors kandidat mal-PN jew PL biex dan japplika. Għandu jkun japplika għall-partiti politici kollha. Hu għalhekk ukoll li aħna bdejna kawża kostituzzjonali dwar id-diskriminazzjoni li hemm fil-liġi elettorali. Nhar it-Tnejn li ġej din il-kawża tibda tinstema’ fl-appell.

Il-ħidma tagħna mhiex se tieqaf sakemm kull mara jkollha l-ispazju kollu meħtieġ għaliha biex tista’ taħdem daqs, kemm u fejn tixtieq, temmet tgħid Sandra Gauci.

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Our country must work harder for women to achieve their full potential

Amidst the rapid changes that we are witnessing in a number of countries around the world, we realise that hard-won rights that we now take as given can easily be taken away from us.  This is why days like today are important and should be celebrated, not only to see how far we have come along and what we have achieved, but also to take note of what we have yet to achieve. With regard to women in Malta, much has yet to be done, especially with regard to gender-based violence, the gender pay gap, reproductive health and the need for more women in positions of responsibility.  This was highlighted by speakers for ADPD-The Green Party in a news conference on Women’s Day this morning.

ADPD-The Green Party Deputy Chairperson Dr. Melissa Bagley said that domestic violence and gender-based violence are realities we live with.  According to Eurostat, 48.2% of all reports made are because of domestic violence, the highest rate to be reported in the European Union.  It is a statistic which reveals that people are taking the initiative to report this, also revealing that the work in having victims understand the need to speak up is bearing fruit.  But much more needs to be done to protect victims of domestic abuse.  Many victims do not get the justice they deserve.  Cases such as that of Bernice Cassar remind us of the lack of protection victims face even when they have reported the abuse.  There is also the case of Chantelle Chetcuti, where her alleged killer is still running around free and living a normal life as if nothing has happened, and potentially endangering other people.  

We need justice that takes these murderers head on, and which gives greater importance to justice for the victim.  Victims of domestic violence need a stronger network of assistance to protect them and to encourage them to find the strength to report this abuse, and take the necessary steps to remove themselves from dangerous situations.  Besides the need for more investment in shelters to protect victims, there is the need for a system that focuses on helping victims, who frequently find themselves in situations where they had to leave their possessions behind.

Sandra Gauci, ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson said that for women in our country to be protected, there is a need for a clear vision, including the necessary legislation.  Parliament has the obligation to protect victims.  She asks whether members of parliament speak about this?  It is something that is remembered once a year because of Women’s Day and then forgotten until there is a very serious case? She asked whether having a gender corrective mechanism has helped to discuss issues concerning domestic violence and gender-based violence as well as reproductive health?

There is the need for women in parliament to speak up and prioritise the problems that victims face, the majority who tend to be women.   The aim of this discriminatory mechanism was to have more women in parliament but also to give greater importance to issues that affect women’s wellbeing.  But so far this has not happened.  The top-up of six women on each side of Parliament has not helped to address women’s issues, and no such responsibilities have been given to those in Parliament and the Cabinet.  This begs the question as to what was the objective of this top-up?  There certainly was no need for such a mechanism as a seat warming exercise, because there is more than enough of this in Parliament already.

We need more women in Parliament; however the gender mechanism should not be designed to accommodate candidates on the PL and PN ticket.  It should be applied to all political parties.  This is why we have initiated a constitutional course concerning the discrimination in the electoral system. The first hearing for this case in the appeal stage is due next Monday.  

Our work will not stop until every woman is given the opportunity necessary to reach her potential, at her own pace and as she sees fit, concluded Sandra Gauci.