Launch of the European Observatory on Femicide
Opening Speech by H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, the President of Malta
The EOF was launched on the 1st of March 2018 in Malta at the University’s Valletta Campus. The launch event was a gathering of experts in the area of preventing and combatting violence against women. The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the establishment of the Observatory, to make the public aware of the new initiative, and to gather support for future work.
Dr Carmen Sammut, the Pro-Rector at the University of Malta welcomed the speakers and attendees of the event, and Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the President of Malta, gave the opening address. After presenting the work of the Observatory, Dr Naudi and Barbara Stelmaszek gave the floor to the evening’s panellists: Blandine Mollard from the European Institute for Gender Equality and Karen Ingala Smith from the UK Femicide Census. The panellists discussed their work in the area of femicide prevention and answered questions from the audience.
Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Member of the European Parliament from Sweden and Member from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), sent a video message for the occasion (view the message above). Johanna Nelles, from the Council of Europe Secretariat of the monitoring mechanism of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence, sent a written message which was read out. Mr Joseph Camilleri, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of European Affairs and Equality gave Dr Helena Dalli’s closing speech, since she was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. The event was followed by a small networking reception.