The SHE Word S5/06 - Women and The Critical Question of Safety

Women’s Safety is a subject that has frequently requested by SHE-Worders, and with good reason.

To give this matter context, 1 in 3 women in Malta will experience Intimate Partner Violence, or Domestic Abuse. Forty-eight women were murdered in Malta in the past 22 years, 32 being femicides; with nine in just the past 5 years. Globally, online violence against women and girls has increased from 16% to 58% since 2018, with one in 10 young women and girls experiencing online violence almost daily, with 40% being harassed at least once a month.

These figures are quite simply shocking and not acceptable. Whilst Women’s Safety becomes a hot topic for discussion when another case tragically hits the headlines, little is making a difference to the long term safety of women, young women and girls.

This is a huge topic to tackle, but in this first show on the subject looking at safety, Trudy and her guests discuss the size of the issue and the areas were women are vulnerable. The discussion starts to look at practical ways for us to protect ourselves, and the conversation steers towards how we can fight for women to be more protected.

Joining Host Trudy Kerr is Lorleen Farrugia - a child rights & child protection researcher and consultant, and an expert in online safety; Dr Marceline Naudi - a social worker, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta and active on the issues of gender equality and violence against women; and Dr. Clarissa Sammut Scerri, University Senior Lecturer, Counseling Psychologist and Family Therapist, and expert relating to the topic of domestic violence and the impact it can have on families.

Join these women in understanding the issues behind the threat to women’s safety, what we can do to improve our own safety, and what we can do to protect the women and girls around us.