Violence and trafficking

The National Council of Women was invited by the Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW) to take part in a press conference highlighting trafficking and violence. The International Federation of Social Workers named November 9 Social Work Action Day (SWAD).

This year's theme was "Violence and Trafficking: Social Workers against exploitation". This theme is closely related to gender inequality and is linked to the UN Day on Elimination of Violence, which falls on November 7.

The NCW has been raising awareness about violence against women and children for a number of years. It promotes zero tolerance in this regard and asks for a nation-wide campaign involving government, NGOs and the media to eliminate this abhorrent crime.

The NCW believes that, as more attention is given to this problem, taboos are lifted. The silence surrounding domestic violence is broken and no longer considered a strictly private matter.

The NCW strongly advocates a full range of support measures to be put in place, which give full confidence to the victims and witnesses. There are some alarming figures quoted in the EU where one woman in four has been the victim of violence at some time in her life.

Globally, women aged 15 to 44 are more likely to be maimed or die as a result of male violence than through cancer, traffic accidents or war. In this new millennium women in Europe and the rest of the world are still being beaten, threatened, bought, sold, prostituted and killed simply because they are women. Violence cuts across cultural, national and class boundaries.

To comprehend the extent of the problem, continuing collection of statistics and data is essential. It also needs systematic recording of the incidence of domestic violence, trafficking, rape and sexual harassment.

This involves GPs, hospitals, schools, the police and relevant agencies. The NCW would like to see the creation of networks, exchange of information and best practice, evolving from this closer co-operation.

Many entities have to work together more closely and set up monitoring mechanisms to bring about the elimination of violence and trafficking. These include the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Family and Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the National Statistics Office, the Commission for the Promotion of Equality between Men and Women, Appogg and other relevant agencies.

Legal responses need to be made more effective, recognising that violence against women is a human rights issue. (Recent sentences in Malta for trafficking, prostitution and violence against 'loved ones' produced light sentences).

The NCW calls for a full range of preventive measures where adolescents are aware of signs that can lead to violence in later years and preparation of youngsters for future responsibility as parents and family life. This has to start at a very young age, as promiscuity is manifesting its way in the early teens.

The NCW would like to see improved assistance and compensation for victims of violence, and sanctions and more effective rehabilitation programmes for the perpetrators. The NCW calls on Government to strengthen current efforts to combat all forms of violence against women through legal, administrative and other provisions.