Malta needs a change of mentality to overcome gender stereotypes, said women’s rights activist Marceline Naudi while speaking on a trip to the murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

She spoke about femicide, but also said that there are other forms of violence against women. “Violence against women begins with the words used against women, on the street, on social media, words aimed at misleading or objecting to women.”

“Violence includes touching someone without our permission, on the bus, in the club, at work or at school. It is also when we are abused by friends or family. Many women around the world the country is suffering from such violence. “

“We need to change the mindset that women are there to help others, that women are there to take care of children and the home, and they are not so good at being a leader of a company, a political party or a country. “They need to change the mindset that men are better at such things, but not so good at washing the floor, for example.”

“We need to overcome gender stereotypes that lead to violence against women not being seen as a big deal.”

She said it was unacceptable for a woman who had filed a domestic violence report to wait years for the court case, or for the woman to feel that she was not being taken seriously when presenting the report.

“If women feel confident that their story will be given due attention then perhaps more will report such violence,” she said.

Alessandra dee Crespo from Occupy Justice said that after more than four years, “we are still here, waiting and fighting for justice.”

“We are here as we follow what Daphne Caruana Galizia has taught us: we pray, we do not accept everything and we do not give up when we see wrong,” she said.

“This week the Prime Minister appointed a panel to implement the recommendations of the public inquiry.” She targeted the selection of Savior Balzan, Savior Formosa and Carmen Sammut, and claimed that their appointment to the committee was “evidence that the government did not accept the conclusions of the inquiry”.

“How can you explain that Abela chose who opened SLAPP against Daphne, who never mentioned her by name, who chose who wrote that saying that Daphne was killed because of corruption is a false story?”

John Mallia also spoke.