Malta Women’s Shelter Rejects Donation from Councillor Who Said Women ‘Enjoy Being Beaten’
**Women’s Shelter Rejects Donation from Councillor Who Said Women “Enjoy Being Beaten”**
A Maltese women’s shelter has refused a €500 donation from a local councillor who once claimed that “women enjoy being beaten,” igniting a fresh debate on gender-based violence, accountability, and the politics of performative allyship in Malta.
The shelter, Dar Merħba Bik, based in Birkirkara, quietly returned the cheque earlier this month after discovering that the donor was none other than Żebbuġ councillor and former Labour Party candidate, Jesmond Mugliett. Mugliett, who made the incendiary remarks during a 2014 radio interview, had attempted to donate the funds as part of a local council initiative ahead of International Women’s Day.
In a brief statement shared on social media, Dar Merħba Bik said: “We do not accept donations from individuals whose public statements have trivialised or justified violence against women. Our work is not for sale, and our survivors are not props.”
The shelter’s refusal has struck a chord across the islands, where gender-based violence remains a deeply entrenched issue. According to the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, over 1,300 women sought shelter or support services in 2023 alone. Just last year, Malta mourned the deaths of three women killed in suspected femicides, reigniting calls for tougher enforcement of protection orders and more robust safe-house infrastructure.
### A History of Harm
Mugliett’s 2014 comments, made on Radio Malta’s *Għandi Xi Ngħid*, were widely condemned at the time. In the interview, he argued that “some women provoke violence” and that “others even enjoy the attention” of being beaten. Despite public outcry, he never resigned from his council seat, and the Labour Party distanced itself but stopped short of expelling him.
Reached for comment this week, Mugliett defended his donation as “a genuine gesture of solidarity,” adding that his 2014 remarks were “taken out of context.” When asked if he would apologise anew, he said: “I’ve already explained myself. It’s time to move on.”
But for many, moving on isn’t so simple.
### “We’re Not Tokens”
Dar Merħba Bik’s decision has been hailed by activists and survivors alike. Dr. Claudia Bennett, a gender studies lecturer at the University of Malta, called it “a watershed moment in Malta’s feminist movement.”
“This isn’t just about one man’s ugly comment,” Bennett said. “It’s about a culture that still allows men in power to say these things, face no real consequences, and then rebrand themselves as allies when it’s politically convenient.”
The shelter’s stance has also sparked a wider conversation about ethical fundraising in the NGO sector. While many organisations rely heavily on private donations and corporate sponsorships, critics argue that accepting money from controversial figures risks legitimising their views or whitewashing their reputations.
“Survivors don’t need blood money,” said Martina Camilleri, a volunteer at Dar Merħba Bik. “They need justice. They need systems that believe them, protect them, and hold abusers accountable — not councils that reward them with photo-ops.”
### A Nation at a Crossroads
The incident comes at a pivotal time for Malta. The government has pledged to ratify the Istanbul Convention fully, and a new national strategy on gender-based violence is expected later this year. Yet, conviction rates remain low, and many women still fear reporting abuse due to stigma, financial dependence, or lack of faith in the system.
Meanwhile, community-led initiatives are stepping in to fill the gap. From feminist collectives organising night marches to church groups offering free legal aid, Maltese society is increasingly polarised between those demanding structural change and those clinging to patriarchal norms.
For Dar Merħba Bik, the refusal is more than symbolic — it’s a line in the sand.
“We’re not here to make abusers feel better about themselves,” the shelter said in its statement. “We’re here to make sure no woman ever has to hear that her pain was her fault.”
As Malta continues to grapple with its conscience, one thing is clear: the women’s movement is no longer asking for a seat at the table. It’s building its own — and not everyone is invited.
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### CONCLUSION
In rejecting Mugliett’s donation, Dar Merħba Bik has done more than uphold its ethical standards; it has issued a challenge to every institution, politician, and citizen in Malta. Real allyship isn’t measured in euros or press releases — it’s measured in accountability, consistency, and respect for survivors. Until that becomes the norm, women’s shelters won’t just be places of refuge. They’ll be battlegrounds for the soul of the nation.
