On this International Women’s Day in Malta we mourn and remember Rita Ellul, murdered at the hands of an ex partner who couldn’t take no for an answer. We mourn and remember Paulina Dembska. We mourn and remember every woman in Malta who has died, victims of gender based violence.
Sandra Gauci, ADPD – The Green Party candidate on districts 6 and 12 also said that including femicide in the law is just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more that needs to be done to protect women from harm.
“There’s a long way to go in addressing violence against women in Malta. Even though Rita Ellul took the right recourse, reporting her ex-partner to the police and having a case in court, this was not enough.”
There is a much needed shift in mentality, unfortunately Malta remains far back in terms of gender equality in many spheres. Representation in politics is one such aspect.
“Women face many barriers in entering politics, often the invisible care labour we must do to support our families, keeps us back from engaging. 75% of candidates this election are men. Perhaps the fact that female politicians are held up to higher standards of judgement, is one reason why we stay back.” adds Dr Melissa Bagley, ADPD – The Green Party candidate on districts 5 and 10.
ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson and candidate on the 4th and 9th districts, Carmel Cacopardo emphasised the needed changes to our electoral system. So that all women are given a fair chance at being represented in parliament.
“The current gender top-up mechanism is not fit for purpose. It sidelines those women who have the courage to stand for elections with ADPD. Regardless of the result they will achieve, the top-up will ignore their results. Malta will be the poorer for it. Some women are deemed more equal than others.”
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Favur l-ugwaljanza u kontra l-vjolenza a bażi tal-ġeneru
F’Jum il-Mara illum infakkru u nuru sogħba għal qtil ta’ Rita Ellul, li sfat vittma ta’ dak li kien is-sieħeb tagħha li irrifjuta li jirrispetta dak li xtaqet hi. Infakkru u nuru sogħba għal qtil ta’ Paulina Dembska. Infakkru u nuru s-sogħba tagħna għal kull mara li inqatlet Malta vittma ta’ vjolenza a bażi tal-ġeneru.
Il-kandidata tal-ADPD – The Green Party fuq is-6 u t-12-il distrett Sandra Gauci qalet ukoll li l-introduzzjoni tal-femiċidju fil-liġi huwa biss il-punt tat-tluq, għaliex hemm ħafna aktar meħtieġ biex iħares lil mara mill-vjolenza.
“It-triq biex verament il-vjolenza kontra l-mara f’Malta tiġi indirizzata kif imiss hija waħda twila. Minkejja li Rita Ellul ħadet l-azzjoni ġusta, billi rrapurtat lil dak li kien is-sieħeb tagħha lil pulizija u kien hemm każ il-qorti, dan ma kienx biżżejjed.”
Hemm bżonn bidla fil-mentalità għaliex Malta baqgħet lura ħafna f’diversi aspetti tal-ugwaljanza. Wieħed minn dawn huwa fejn tidħol ir-rappreżentanza fil-politika.
Dr Melissa Bagley, kandidata tal-ADPD – The Green Party fuq il-5 u l-10 distrett qalet li “Hemm diversi raġunijiet għala n-nisa ma jinvolvux ruħhom fil-politika, ibda minn dak ix-xogħol li ma tantx jidher li nagħtu biex nissaportjaw il-familji tagħna. 75% tal-kandidati f’din l-elezzjoni huma rġiel. Forsi il-fatt li politiċi nisa huma aktar iġġudikati ta’ għemilhom hija waħda mir-raġunijiet għaliex nibqgħu lura?” staqsiet Bagley.
Carmel Cacopardo, Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party u kandidat fuq ir-4 u d-9 distrett qal li hemm bżonn bidla fis-sistema elettorali tagħna biex din tagħti verament trattament ugwali fejn jidħol rappreżentanza fil-parlament.
“Il-mekkaniżmu li iddaħħal ta’ top-up tal-ġeneru mhux addattat għaċ-ċirkustanzi. Iħalli barra dawk in-nisa li għandhom il-kuraġġ li joħorġu għall-elezzjoni mal-ADPD. Kwalunkwe riżultat li huma se jiksbu se jiġi injorat minn dan il-mekkaniżmu. U ta’ dan tbati Malta. In-nisa tal-PLPN huma aktar ugwali min-nisa oħra”, temm jgħid Cacopardo.
