Women in the Mediterranean
The third stage of the MED 25 Le Bel Espoir aims to rediscover the importance of women's place in building peace. Their rights and responsibilities are a challenge in the balance of societies. Their participation in public life, education and research, in the family, associative, professional and political world reflects the commitment of Mediterranean societies to the dignity of every person and the participation of each person in building justice.
Objective
The project positions Malta as a focal point of Mediterranean identity while providing the Church an opportunity to reaffirm its ethos and role in civil society.
Inspired by the Pope’s mandate and teachings regarding the importance of the Mediterranean in its strategic positioning of bringing peoples, cultures and religions together, exploring the role of one’s faith shaped by the places where we exist
The primary aim of this conference is to help bring about a change in the understanding of women as a self-determining subject, as opposed to an object of desire. At a time when the country is ravaged by repeated instances of domestic violence and femicides, the Catholic Church in Malta aims to bring into play “renewed and shared narratives which―based on listening to the past and to the present―speak to the hearts of people”.
Sunday, 27th April 2025
8.30AM
Public lecture at St John’s Co-Cathedral (coordinated with PFI and the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta). “Art and the Catholic Reform in Hospitaller Malta: Faith and Patronage at the heart of the Mediterranean.” – by Rev. Dr Nicholas Doublet
9.30 AM
Holy Mass by the Auxiliary Bishop, with the participation of Spanish, French and Italian-speaking communities in Malta (streamed live on TVM)
Short keynote presentations (10-15 minutes each), followed by panel discussions and topic-focused group sessions.
Keynote Speakers:
- Il-Ħatfa (Abduction)
This would involve exploring the plight of migrant women in light of the perennial Mediterranean concept of piracy and abduction in contrast with other seemingly characteristic concepts of care and hospitality.
- Barra vs Ġewwa
The aim is to explore gender violence in light of tensions between external influences and internal identity, focusing on colonial legacies and building an inclusive community.
- Silence
The aim is to explore the dual nature of silence, which is often construed as a virtue, but potentially enables mistrust and violence. The idea is to propose creativity as an antidote to violence.
