Working for victims of crime

In recent years, the Ministry for the Interior, Security and Work has carried out work focused in particular on victims, including victims of domestic violence. This is through both the establishment of the Agency for Victims of Crime and also the establishment of the Gender based and Domestic Violence Unit in the Police Force, and through the first hub in Santa Lucia.

This also helped so that today Malta has among the highest rates of victims in the European Union who went to report experiences of physical or sexual violence to the authorities. In fact, according to a survey carried out on gender-based violence in the European Union, the reporting rate is almost double the European average.

This was said by the Minister for the Interior, Security and Work Byron Camilleri when he addressed the annual conference of the Crime Victim Services Agency who spoke about the Government’s strategy to place greater emphasis on the victims of crime and domestic violence and the assistance given to them.

Minister Camilleri said that after the creation, three years ago, of the Crime Victim Services Agency, the work has now become more focused on prevention and support policy and to reduce duplication in -providing services to victims.

He announced that together with Victim Support Europe, and with public consultation, a National Support Strategy in favor of victims has begun to be shaped so that support services for victims are aligned with European ones.

Minister Camilleri listed the initiatives that have been taken for the benefit of the victims of domestic violence including through the specialized services provided by the Gender Based and Domestic Violence Unit of the police from the hub that was set up in Santa Lucija. The same will be done shortly with the opening of another hub in Mtarfa. He said that since the Santa Lucija hub started operating, nine months ago, more than 1,500 people have been given help by the police and professionals.

In his speech Minister Camilleri said that the next steps are the introduction, in the coming weeks, of panic alarms for victims of domestic violence and the parliamentary discussion, in the coming days, about the -law of electronic tagging.

Minister Camilleri stressed the need for everyone to recognize that they must bear the responsibility to ensure that the victims are given the protection, justice and compassion they deserve.

Among others, VSA CEO Brian Farrugia and Antonio De Martin from Victim Support Europe also spoke at the conference.

Earlier, an exhibition on domestic violence was also inaugurated which will be staged in various localities in our country in order to raise greater awareness about the victims of crime and the means available to help them.

Photos: MHSE/DOI