Title: Seminar - Women, Politics & Violence
Date: Thursday 10 April 2025
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Venue: Arts Lecture Theatre (ALT)
Join the Gender, Equality & Sexual Diversity Committee (GESDC) and the Department of Gender & Sexualities within the University's Faculty for Social Wellbeing for a crucial conversation on gender, politics and resilience.
The seminar will begin with a welcome address from Prof. JosAnn Cutajar (Head of the Department of Gender and Sexualities, Faculty for Social Wellbeing and GESDC Chair) and an opening speech by Her Excellency President Myriam Spiteri Debono entitled Violence against women in politics: What does it look like?
This will be followed by a number of presentations by various speakers:
- Hon. Rebecca Buttigieg (Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reform) will talk on The role of social media regulations on political online discourse
- Prof. Carmen Sammut (Pro-Rector for Student & Staff Affairs and Outreach)
- Dr Sandra Scicluna (Dean, Faculty of Social Wellbeing)
- (Department of Government & Politics, University College Cork, Ireland) will talk on The cost of doing politics. Violence against politicians: what does it look like and how is it gendered? Drawing from the Irish case-study.
Following the presentations, a distinguished panel of political leaders and advocates will share their experiences and propose strategies for improving safety for women in politics. This section is moderated by Mr Roderick Vassallo (Junior College Vice-Principal, and GESC Co-Chair).
Panellists:
- Hon. Rebekah Borg, Member of Parliament, Nationalist Party
- Hon. Janice Chetcuti, Member of Parliament, Nationalist Party
- Dr Therese Comodini Cachia, Lawyer & Former MEP & MP, Nationalist Party
- Hon. Dr Katya De Giovanni, Member of Parliament, Labour Party
- Ms Sandra Gauci, Councillor, St Paul鈥檚 Bay Local Council; Party Leader, ADPD
Panel discussion topics:
- Political parties: How can internal party policies safeguard women in politics?
- Parliament: What reforms can make parliamentary settings safer and more inclusive?
- Journalists: How can media practices be more responsible when covering female politicians?
- Social media platforms: What role should social media companies play in preventing the harassment and abuse of politicians?
All are welcome! Please register by filling in the .
