‘Every day is Women’s Day’: Activists come together to mark Women’s Day

Activists took to the streets of Valletta on Sunday afternoon to mark International Women’s Day, celebrating progress in women’s rights while highlighting the struggles and injustices that persist.

To the sound of drums, activists chanted  "whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes, no means no". Marching towards Castille Square they shouted other slogans including "feminist and not fascist" and "my body, my choice, raise your voice".

The march, which was organised by Moviment Graffitti and endorsed by several other activist groups, began at Triton Fountain and ended in St George’s Square.

The slogan for the event, ‘Women’s Day Every Day,’ serves as a reminder of the daily struggles women face in society.

The march came to a temporary halt when three young boys tried to interrupt the march. One boy performed a fascist salute, and another tried to pull the banner out of the hands of the activists. The boys tried to run away, but police officers quickly caught up with them. A Moviment Graffitti spokesperson told Times of Malta that the boys were taken to the police station, yet no charges will be pressed.

Amy Abela, a member of Moviment Graffitti said every day women go about their days, working, cleaning, helping their children and face different problems.

She recalled different stories of women who face sexist or crude comments at work, others who have to hide that they had an abortion from their family, out of fear they will be reported. She also recounted stories of women who are raped by friends and are left hurt and confused by the sexual violence.

Activists carried different posters for the International Women's Day march. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

“These experiences sound isolated or personal, but they are results of a systematic problem we have in our country. Nearly every woman we know has experienced such a scenario,” Abela said.

She said such scenarios instil fear in women, but "women should not allow fear to control them".

“The fact that we are all here in public is a testimony to our courage. We are here as one voice to show that we are ready to stand up for women and to fight against this unfair and violent system. We are here for all women, in Malta, Palestine, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan, Libya, Venezuela and around the world.”

“The lives and experiences of women across the world are different, but our fight is communal.”

Jasmine Conti from MGRM and Joanna Iebaili from Lebanese Advocates also spoke.

The speeches were followed by performances by artists Angela & Andrew Vella Zarb, Kor ReSisters, Skimmed and REA.

The organisations endorsing the march are aditus foundation, Dance Beyond Borders, Department of Gender & Sexualities, UoM, Doctors for Choice, Humanists Malta, Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM), Malta Women’s Lobby, Men against Violence, Migrant Women Association Malta, Moviment Graffitti, IVY Interrupting Violence towards Youth, JC Diversity Committee, SOS Malta, Women Elevation Malta, Women for Women, Women’s Rights Foundation (WRF), Young Progressive Beings and Żminijietna Malta.