As part of the national strategy against domestic violence, training is being given to professionals who, during the performance of their duties, meet face to face with victims of violence.
This training is being given by the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence and is taking place at the Academy of Disciplined Forces which has opened its doors to other people from different spheres of society, but who work closely with vulnerable people. Training is a main pillar on which the national strategy is based, through which the government is reiterating its commitment to combat this social scourge.
In a visit made by the Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri and the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg, they met and spoke with the professionals who are attending these -sessions that will lead to being able to offer a better service to those who could potentially be victims of violence. The participants included people working in public entities as well as members of non-governmental organizations working in the sector.
Minister Byron Camilleri noted with satisfaction that the Academy of Disciplined Forces has opened its doors to other professionals who work in the field of domestic violence as well as gender-based violence. He said that, “A victim of violence ends up a victim twice if he does not find the necessary help. Therefore, these sessions in the academy are helping those who work directly with victims to have the necessary tools to give the best help to those who are going through the trauma that violence brings”.
Minister Camilleri concluded that this is a government that gives importance to everyone, in particular to the most vulnerable, among victims of violence; an importance that eventually translates into different help depending on the case.
Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg stressed that the government is committed to continue fighting domestic violence and gender-based violence. The national strategy offers a framework and an action plan for the government to invest the necessary resources. There is no doubt that the biggest priority is education to teach every layer of society that this is not acceptable behaviour.
“The moment a person seeks help, it is important to treat that person with love and compassion. It is our mission to continue to collaborate with various social partners to ensure that people find and receive the help they need when they seek it”.
The minister and the parliamentary secretary thanked the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence which works so closely with the entities concerned to ensure that the services reach those people who in one way or another they have been affected by domestic violence. They also thanked the organizations that work nearby with the victims to help them build a life away from violence.
Among the professionals who attended there were members from the police force, from the Department of Health, teachers and representatives working in the educational sector as well as people working in the legal profession.
Photo: MHSR
