Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512911
that of today. The circumstances, however, certainly do seem to mirror each other quite closely. Then as now, the Nationalist Party was internal- ly divided, along (mostly) ideolog- ical lines; then as now, there was a bruising behind-the-scenes battle, for the PN's 'soul'; and – also then as now – there was a growing per- ception that the Nationalist Party was facing an 'existential threat'… …in other words: that it had to 'change, or die'. … which brings us back to Mario de Marco's (somewhat unilateral) statement, at last week's PN Gen- eral Conference. Even if we accept his definition of the PN, as a tra- ditionally 'centre-left party' – and many Nationalists (including the likes of Edwin Vassallo) certainly do no such thing – it would still leave us with the awkward pros- pect, that… … well, the PN only identi- fies with that ideology, because it helped it to win an election in 1987... and then again in 1992,1998,2003, and finally 2008. From that point on, however: the PN's 'centre-left roots' have clear- ly lost their magical 'resonance', with a population that has now rejected the same PN – by ev- er-increasing margins – in the last three elections, on the trot. Now: to be fair to Mario de Mar- co, he did also say that (words to the effect of) 'he would prefer remaining in opposition, rath- er than compromising on those principles'. But let's face it, folks: political parties cannot afford to 'remain in opposition', forever. (Otherwise, there wouldn't be much point in their existence, would there?) And this is why I predicted, earli- er, that those words will return to 'haunt' a party that is already in- ternally divided, as we speak. The PN's own history clearly shows that it has often been more-than willing, to discard its former prin- ciples in order to guarantee its own political survival… … and with the old principles no longer delivering the string of historic election-victories, that they once used to: Mario de Mar- co has practically spelt out to us, in no uncertain terms, that the PN has to once again undergo an umpteenth 'transformation', in policy and ideology, if it is to survive. So will it now do what Eddie Fenech Adami did, so successfully, back in 1977… and 'reinvent' itself along an entirely different political model? Or will it doggedly persist in an ideological direction that is, very clearly, 'taking it nowhere'? Naturally, I can't see that far into the future, myself. But one thing seems certain, from where I'm sit- ting right now. Either way, the PN will lose a not-insignificant chunk of its own voter-base, in the bar- gain (namely, the ones who feel 'left-out', by the chosen ideology.) And given that the two direc- tions in which the party is cur- rently being 'pulled' – i.e., the 'left' and 'right' of the political spec- trum – are, by definition, 'mutual- ly exclusive'… … the likeliest outcome of this 'tug-of-war', by far, is that the rope itself will very simply 'snap, some- where in the middle'… ACTIVISM has always been a useful tool in raising awareness to bring about mean- ingful change. Activism is also useful in cre- ating awareness which helps form and em- power present and future leaders to double their efforts in championing their cause. Ending gender-based violence is long overdue. This year's 16 days of activism in the global campaign against gender-based violence are being organised with the theme "Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide: leaving no one be- hind". The Consultative Council for Women's Rights is taking a resolute stance during these 16 days of activ- ism. The Council em- phasises the paramount importance of consul- tation and communi- cation, bringing NGOs and experts around one table. This inclusive approach ensures that policies are informed by diverse perspectives. The Council urges col- lective efforts to chal- lenge and dismantle the roots of gender-based violence, extend empa- thetic support to survi- vors, advocate for poli- cy reforms, and actively engage in reshaping so- cietal norms through education. It is through these concerted actions that the council envisions a future where women's rights are not on- ly acknowledged but safeguarded, forging a society founded on equality, dignity, and empowerment. This is how we can effectively Beat the Silence, which is incidentally the local theme for this year's campaign against gen- der-based violence and domestic violence. Activism must also be supported by meaningful action from policy makers. We recently met with the Commissioner for Gender-based Violence and Domestic Vio- lence Samantha Pace Gasan and discussed various topics which have a material impact on strengthening our resolve to end gen- der-based violence in our country. We discussed the Valenzia report and the recommendations made by Judge Emeritus Geoffrey Valenzia following Bernice Cas- sar's murder in 2022. That murder sounded the alarm bell on the urgency of putting in place the necessary safeguards, be it legisla- tive, preventive, and correctional which will hopefully avoid similar crimes to occur. Our discussions also focused on the im- plementation of Third National strategy on gender-based violence and domestic violence (2023-2028) which has just been launched. It is encouraging to note that the third national strategy on gender-based vio- lence and domestic violence, which lays out the national roadmap for the next five years is the result of consultation which were al- so held with the Consultative Council for Women's Rights. We strongly believe that collective efforts that prioritise the most important pillars of this strategy such as prevention, monitoring and the strength- ening of the prosecution tools. By bringing together a significant number of interested stakeholders, the Con- sultative Council for Women's Rights is an ideal forum where such policies and initiatives can be formulated and optimised. I want to see more direct collaboration between the various en- tities which ultimately are all working towards one common goal. This will lead to better and faster solutions. Eradicating domestic violence is an urgent imperative for women, as it stands as a heinous violation of their rights and dignity. Shockingly, one in three women globally has endured physical or sexual intimate partner violence, as reported by the World Health Organisa- tion. This statistic unveils the harsh reality that countless women face, highlighting the pressing need to break this cycle of abuse. By making the fight against domestic vio- lence a top priority, we not only protect in- dividual victims but also strive to dismantle systemic barriers, fostering a society where women can rise unhindered by the chains of violence. Having a sound and solid legislation, with effective preventive tools are a priority but having them in place without further de- lay is of primary importance. We must end gender-based violence but we must end it now. Every day lost, risks adding to the list of people who ended up victims of a failing society. The Consultative Council for Women's Rights brings together experts and repre- sentatives from over 15 non-governmental organisations with interest in the matter. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 DECEMBER 2023 OPINION 11 Charmaine Mangion is the chairperson of the Consultative Council for Women's Rights Time is now Charmaine Mangion "I want to see more direct collaboration between the various entities which ultimately are all working towards one common goal. This will lead to better and faster solutions"