Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/797847
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 MARCH 2017 3 politics to change things." The President encouraged politicians to incentivise women to be active in politics as well as to make parliament family friendly. "It is still structured around what is conveni- ent for men. There are no facilities for moth- ers and I say this as I have been a mother in parliament myself. I would turn to the men and tell them that they need family-friendly structures because at the end of the day it is not just an issue for mothers, but also for men." Having worked inside the male-dominated world of politics, first as Labour secretary- general for nine years, Coleiro Preca said she always felt she had to work "six times as hard more than men to prove myself… We need to be there in numbers to change any- thing. In my 40 years in politics I don't feel anything changed, but that rather, I have been changed." She said circumstances still held women back, noting a recent survey that found wom- en had no time for social and sporting activi- ties, which meant that whilst the number of women in work was growing, family duties still absorbed a lot of their time and denied them the opportunity to enjoy their life. "I didn't come from a family of people who were only interested in politics... I would worry them a lot. Support is very important. When you find people who support you, you will perform better and this is why I encour- age events where we meet and share synergy. "In life we must be determined. Whatever it is. If we are convinced of something we must continue to work for it with the strug- gles it brings. Determination, will, are cru- cial. Let us believe in each other." Coleiro Preca told attendees not to give up hope. "Do not be complacent. I encour- age you to be activists for equality, social justice so that this country will be beautified by more women who work to ensure our democracy continues to function. Don't be discouraged and don't be conformists, keep asking questions and carry on working for what you believe in." Other voices Elaine Pavia, head of Dar Merhba Bik Foundation, told MaltaToday that she was there to raise awareness and reach out to the silent victims of domestic violence. The march was also attended by several men, as husbands and fathers. "All men should be here, because women's rights are human rights," Dimitrijevic's husband Alex, who runs Men Against Violence, said. Alice Taylor, a writer, who produced the promotional video for the event, said that while much had been achieved, there was a long way to go for women's rights in Malta. "Women are scared of reporting domestic violence as when they do, they are often ac- cused of wasting police time," she said, add- ing that she had experienced this herself. Two young interns working with the youth support and anti-bullying helpline Kel- limni.com, Lydia from Hungary and Fran- ziska from Germany, said they supported the event because it was important that "in every country, women have equal rights, the opportunity to work in every area." Activist Diane Brincat said it was im- portant for Maltese women to voice their concerns and join the global movement for women's rights. "A lack of understanding of feminism has made the event more impor- tant," she said, "as only then would achieving equal rights on a social, political and eco- nomic level be possible." Asked why they were marching, Univer- sity students Jessie and Hannah from the UK said that while they felt privileged to have been born in a culture that gave wom- en rights, they were here in solidarity with women from all over the world who weren't. "We are not free until all women are free," they said. Mel McElhatton, founder of Gender Equal- ity Malta, told the crowd that one of the big- gest issues the organisation is tackling at the moment is parental rights. "The fact that fathers only have one day of parental leave, only strengthens the wrong idea that women are meant to raise children alone." The difficulties Maltese society caused to women of different ethnic backgrounds were placed in the spotlight. Recipient of the Queen's young leaders award Sara Ezabe Mallia, told the crowd that she was there to raise awareness about the plight of women who merely looked non-Maltese. Racist comments were something they encoun- tered daily, she said. However, many Maltese were unable to articulate what their cultural identity meant to them when asked. "Many didn't have a clue." Law student Naomi Bugre told the audi- ence that she would meet a lot of young women from minority backgrounds who felt they didn't fit in. "They don't feel beauti- ful... hearing things like 'I would never go out with a black girl'. These are things we hear everyday." News rms to achieve true equality PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES BIANCHI The march was led by a number of activists including (from left) Marceline Naudi, Renee Laiviera, Andrea Dibben and Lara Dimitrijevic