New ‘intersectional’ campaign to break cycle of violence against women launched

A new “intersectional” campaign aimed at breaking the cycle of violence against women was launched by the Ministry for Equality and European Affairs yesterday.

Launched during a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, Breaking the Cycle of Violence Against Women is based on the notion of intersectionality – meaning that the realities of every case are different, and that different variables make for cases which are essentially unique.

As a result, Minister for Equality and European Affairs Helena Dalli said in a press conference, there was no one-sizefits-all solution to dealing with cases of violence, as variables such as age, disability and finances could all play a part in the realities of each case.

Dalli said that it was now time to move forward by having a system in place that could help distinguish between different victim realities. This new campaign will focus on three particular demographics especially vulnerable to violent abuse: migrant women, disabled women, and LGBTQI women. However, focus will also be given to different areas as well – a set of 11 posters treating various demographics have been launched to raise awareness about abuse in different sectors of society, including the three focus demographics, but also other groups such as the elderly.

The project will be EU funded and will cost €350,000, spanning a period of two and a half years. The campaign will work to ascertain why people do not leave an abusive relationship and then seek solutions for different circumstances accordingly. Training for groups and on a one-to-one basis on the subject will also be provided, while a public awareness campaign promoting Aġenzija Appoġġ and its helpline 179 is also underway.

The Scout Association of Malta and the Malta Girl Guides Association will also be helping in the campaign by carrying out multiple seminars and information sessions so as to help raise awareness in children and promote a more equal outlook between genders, discarding certain established stereotypes which are of a detriment to one sex or the other.