Nationwide School Competition Launched Against Gender-Based Violence

As part of the national campaign ‘Għandna Ħolma: Futur Mingħajr Vjolenza’, Malta has officially launched a country-wide creativity competition aimed at students in primary, middle, and secondary schools. The initiative forms part of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and seeks to encourage young people to reflect on the values of respect, dignity, consent, and healthy relationships.

The competition was announced by the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence together with the Parliamentary Secretariat for Equality and Reforms, in collaboration with the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation.

A platform for students to express their creativity

Students will be able to submit original work across a variety of categories, including art, writing, design, media content, and technology-based projects. The aim is to give young people the space to creatively express their ideas about building a society where violence has no place.

Buttigieg: “This is about culture change, not just competition.”

Speaking during the launch event at St Nicholas College Middle School in Rabat, Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg emphasised that this initiative is not simply aimed at selecting winners.

According to Buttigieg, the goal is to cultivate a national mindset of zero tolerance towards domestic violence while empowering students to contribute to the wider movement against gender-based violence.

She encouraged students to participate actively, describing them as “the men and women of tomorrow” who share the collective dream of a future free from violence.

Workshops and the symbolic teddy bear campaign

During the event, Commissioner Samantha Pace Gasan led a workshop with students, listening to their views on what makes a healthy relationship and guiding them as they brainstorm ideas for their submissions.

Meanwhile, schools have also received the campaign’s symbolic teddy bear, distributed in PSCD classrooms and counselling rooms. The teddy bear represents comfort, safety, and emotional support during childhood, and aims to encourage children to speak more openly with educators or professionals — especially in cases where domestic violence may be happening at home.

This forms part of the ongoing actions outlined in the Third National Strategy on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence (2023–2028).

How to submit

Students who wish to participate may send their work via email to:

📩 contactus@stopviolence.gov.mt

Deadline: 18 January 2026

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