Rise in reported cases

Reports of domestic violence are on the increase, with 921 victims seeking help from Appogg last year compared to 866 cases the previous year.

Between 1994, when the service started, and last month, a total of 2,875 victims resorted to the social work agency for help, with the number increasing each year.

Social Policy Parliamentary Secretary Dolores Cristina said 60 per cent suffered a combination of abuse, while 16 per cent endured physical abuse from their husband or male partner, often in the presence of children.

Chief executive Joe Gerada said this rise did not necessarily mean that domestic violence was on the increase, and it could be put down to greater awareness and less tolerance to violence.

Mr Gerada and Ms Cristina were yesterday speaking at a press conference to launch the first national domestic violence awareness campaign of Appogg, being organised in collaboration with the Lion's Club of St Paul's Bay.

Appogg marketing executive Alison Sammut said the campaign included a pocket-sized safety manual on how to protect against domestic violence, pamphlets, posters, billboards and video clips which were launched on television stations last night.

Ms Cristina said the campaign will be an annual event to raise awareness of the harm of domestic violence and the grave psychological effects this had on children and their mothers.

Unfortunately, there were still men who thought that hitting their wives or partners was not wrong and that their wives were there to accommodate their needs.

Ms Cristina said that men were also victims of domestic violence, though this was not a frequent problem. Last year 16 cases were reported.

"The government is committed to ensuring zero tolerance to violence and one of my priorities is to ensure that the new bill on domestic violence is passed in parliament as soon as possible," she said.

Ms Cristina also referred to the government's investment in this sector and the setting up of a shelter, Ghabex, which was opened to cater for the emergency calls received.

Since the shelter opened in 2000, 166 persons made use of it, 57 per cent being children accompanying their mothers.

Abusive men had the facility of following a programme on anger management and since this service was set up in 1999 around 100 men had used it.

Mr Gerada said the majority of referrals came through the agency's 179 telephone support line and the victims were provided with shelter, social workers and legal advice.

"Domestic violence is difficult to eradicate, but these services should serve to soften the blow," he said.

He also mentioned the Daphne research project, conducted with the European Information Centre Against Violence, in which Malta was classified among the best countries in Europe in terms of the shelter facilities provided.

The local shelters also scored top points for the safety they provided and the ability to empower women.

Two legal consultants, Nicole Vella De Fremeaux and Elaine Ellul, said that sadly women who ran away from their abuse from home often ended up dropping the case once they faced their partner in court.

On this point, Mr Gerada said Appogg was working to strengthen its service of psychological support.