Malta Women's Lobby calls for accountability, immediate action in response to violence against women
The recent femicide of Nicolette Ghirxi is a reminder that the systemic failure to protect women in Malta continues to cost lives, the Malta Women's Lobby has said.Ghirxi was found murdered in her apartment last week."While political leaders and offi
The recent femicide of Nicolette Ghirxi is a reminder that the systemic failure to protect women in Malta continues to cost lives, the Malta Women's Lobby has said.
Ghirxi was found murdered in her apartment last week.
"While political leaders and officials offer promises they seem to have no intention to honour, we remain unimpressed and increasingly frustrated by the lack of tangible results. The time for numbers and empty assurances is over. What we demand now is accountability."
"We are particularly concerned by the recent claims that 70% of the recommendations from the ministerial inquiry into Bernice Cassar's femicide have been implemented. If this is true, why are women like Nicolette still losing their lives? This tragic case raises serious questions about the effectiveness of these so-called implemented measures and how this 'progress' is being calculated."
"We are particularly disgusted at the constant victim-blaming we are witnessing from those who were duty-bound to protect those at risk. Women should not be blamed for not undergoing risk assessments; instead, they should be provided with the protection and support they desperately need, especially if the perpetrator openly defies and mocks the police as happened in this case. Moreover, does this mean that protection services would have acted differently had Ms Ghirxi accepted to undergo a risk-assessment? And following her communication about the perpetrator being in Malta, was this not enough of a cry for help? Why was no action taken in the four days that followed?"
"Added to this, is there any truth in the allegation that the perpetrator was flagged by the Anti Terrorism Branch of the Police since 2015 and was considered as a national threat? This has not been addressed by our police force, but if this was the case, why was he NOT immediately arrested on his arrival in Malta? And failing this, why was he not picked up by the police for questioning after refusing to make himself available when this was requested following Ms Ghirxi's report that she was being harassed? Or is this how those who mock the authorities are treated?"
The existence of the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, the National Strategy on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence (2023-2028), and the Human Rights Directorate are meant to address these issues, the group said. "We feel it is time for these bodies to truly demonstrate that they are not just another political structure concerned with publishing statistics, but are truly committed to safeguarding the lives of women in Malta."
"We have been discussing solutions such as electronic tagging and the establishment of support hubs for years, yet not enough progress has been made, despite constitutional and criminal cases that highlight the need for electronic tagging, but these calls continue to fall on deaf ears. The Grevio Report of 2020 had already recommended the use of electronic tagging, and yet four years later these have not materialised. Why? And why do we now need to wait for yet another year till 2025 to have a second hub in the Centre of the Island, when this had already been promised in the past? Is this not an urgent matter?"
If the authorities do not have the necessary personnel or resources to address this crisis effectively, then they must support those NGOs and other organisations that are ready and willing to step in, the group said. "We need real change, not more discussions and delays."
"We call on the government, law enforcement authorities, and all relevant bodies to take immediate, decisive action. Women in Malta deserve to live without fear. The safety of women should not be compromised by bureaucratic inefficiencies or political inaction. We've absolutely had it up to our eyeballs with predictable political rhetoric, victim-blaming and the usual paying of lip service. Accountability is not optional - it is a necessity. We demand a thorough investigation into the failures that have led to this latest femicide and a commitment to preventing future tragedies. The lives of women in Malta depend on it. For this reason the MWL wholeheartedly supports the call by Ms Ghirxi's family for an independent inquiry."
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