The third national strategy on gender-based violence and domestic violence was launched with a five-year plan that includes a series of actions and measures that will be carried out by various public entities to strengthen the fight against domestic violence.
The Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence through Commissioner Samantha Pace Gasan explained that this strategy was designed in consultation with stakeholders and is based on the Istanbul Convention for the elimination of violence based on gender and domestic violence and continues to build on the two strategies made before. Some of the measures began to be carried out as part of the implementation of the recommendations of Judge Emeritus Geoffrey Valenzia while the strategy provides an action plan to carry out a series of other initiatives until 2028 that strengthen the protection of victims both from -social aspect as well as from the judicial aspect.
Minister Byron Camilleri said that domestic violence is a social scourge that we need to continue to fight in every way. He explained that progress has been made in the last months and years, but in light of the fact that this is a lasting reality, the commitment is a continuous one. He referred to various entities in the equality and security sectors to implement the Valencia report in its entirety.
Minister Camilleri informed that in a short time the first hub to welcome victims of domestic violence will start operating in Santa Lucija, as soon as the works have reached their end. This center will be aimed at assisting victims both from GBDVU officers, as well as various other professionals, where the alleged aggressor will continue to be interrogated at the Police Headquarters in Floriana. Also, during the year 2024 the services of electronic monitoring and panic alarms will be introduced.
“Therefore we see that we engage and involve the various communities in this campaign by working hand in hand with everyone who can influence and change the social norms that we have inherited over the years. Experience shows us that no matter how much we do, it will never be enough. And there should continue to be this willingness, from everyone, so that we can do more and intensify our fight against this scourge of our society,” concluded Minister Camilleri.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg said that the main priority of this strategy is the strengthening of the various services that offer professional help to victims of violence based on gender and gender. domestic violence.
She said that the laws in this area will be updated while there is a strong commitment to have the human resources in this sector so that these cases are treated with the greatest speed together with the technological tools for security and protection for victims of domestic violence.Parliamentary Secretary Buttigieg said that the vision of this strategy comes from the fact that she is thinking about strengthening education for students and for training programs for the judiciary and for public officials who come face to face with dealing with cases of domestic violence.
The Prime Minister’s wife, Dr. Lydia Abela, who is part of the 16 days of activism on domestic and gender-based violence awareness, also addressed the launch of the strategy. She recognized how the national strategy must make Malta a model that applies the Istanbul Convention.
Dr. Abela maintained that the attitude of all of us must be to stretch our necks for more work and recognized the commitment and strong will to address the realities linked to domestic violence. She pointed out that in recent months strong work has continued with reforms that address a social scourge. Lydia Abela noted that the strategy contains an emphasis on the training of professionals who are the catalysts of the implementation of the national strategy launched. “Changes should not scare us into being passive”, emphasized Dr Abela, who also encouraged the victims of domestic violence to, together with their loved ones and the professionals, start a new chapter and overcome the silence.
