Malta’s Silent Whispers: The Blame Game in Rape Cases

Imagine this: a dimly lit street in Msida, a young woman’s hurried footsteps echoing as she clutches her bag tighter. She’s just been through something terrible, something that’s left her shaken and scared. She knows she needs to report it, but as she approaches the police station, a thought crosses her mind – who will believe her? Who will listen without casting aspersions?

Malta, like many societies, grapples with a delicate dance of blame when it comes to rape cases. The victim, already traumatized, often finds herself navigating a complex web of suspicion and doubt. This is not a new phenomenon, but it’s one that’s worth exploring, especially as we strive for a more compassionate, believing society.

In Malta, as in many places, the victim is often the first suspect. Questions about her clothing, her behavior, her past relationships – all these can become twisted into accusations. It’s a tragic dance where the victim is forced to defend her actions, her choices, her very character, while the perpetrator remains the silent partner.

Take the case of ‘Alex’ (not her real name), a young woman who was raped in a Valletta alleyway. She reported it, only to find herself fielding questions about why she was out so late, what she was wearing, whether she’d had too much to drink. “I felt like I was on trial,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

Malta is changing, but change takes time. We’re seeing shifts in our culture, in our laws, in our understanding of consent. The Sexual Offences Act of 2018 was a significant step forward, introducing the concept of ‘reasonable belief’ in cases of consent. It’s a start, but it’s not enough.

We need to challenge the narrative that blames the victim. We need to ask ourselves – why are we so quick to doubt, to question, to blame? Why is it easier to believe that a woman is lying than that a man is guilty? We need to listen, really listen, to the victims. We need to believe them, not because it’s easy, but because it’s right.

Let’s remember the young woman in Msida. Let’s remember Alex. Let’s remember that behind every rape case, there’s a person, a life, a story. And let’s strive to be a society that believes, that supports, that protects.

It’s not going to be easy. Changing cultural norms never is. But it’s not impossible. We can do better. We can be better. Let’s start by listening, by believing, by supporting. Let’s start by saying, “I believe you.”