I refer to the letter by Jonathan Grech, about the Domestic Violence Bill (June 15) in which he correctly states that men are abused too.

In her introduction of the debate in Parliament, the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Dolores Cristina, who is piloting this Bill, highlighted that the law is gender neutral and that men too are victims of domestic violence. Around 25 other members of Parliament who participated in the debate also spoke about men being victims of domestic violence.

In addition, Ms Cristina mentioned an example of wrong attitudes that discouraged male victims from speaking out.

The reality, however, is that the majority of domestic violence victims are women and children, and statistics confirm this. A police report for January to September last year shows that out of 253 victims, 35 were men and that one of them was over 70 years old.

Perpetrators of domestic violence are often physically, mentally, emotionally or financially stronger than their victims who may include persons with disability, children and the elderly.