Commission on Domestic Violence at Council of Europe conference

Last Monday the Council of Europe (CoE) held a high level conference in Madrid to launch its campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence. The Maltese Commission on Domestic Violence, which was set up following the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act 2005, was represented at the conference by one of its members, Dr Marceline Naudi.

The launch ceremony included speeches by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero and Senate President Francisco Javier Rojo Garcia. The CoE was represented by its Secretary General, Terry Davis, Committee of Ministers' chair Fiorenzo Stolfi, Parliamentary Assembly President Reneé van der Linden and Ian Micallef, president of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The CoE's campaign will run until 2008 and will work through governments, parliaments and local authorities, creating partnerships with voluntary organisations in the field to ensure wide-ranging action. It aims to make the public aware of the extent of violence towards women and to encourage new laws and practices to stop this violence.

Research carried out by the CoE shows that today significant numbers of women are suffering fear, distress and injury because of repeated physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the home.

During the launch, Mr Davis said: "It is incredible that, in a century which has seen the development of human rights law and fundamental changes for the better in the way people are treated, we are still in a position where half the population are systematically at risk. Domestic violence against women has been tolerated for too long in Europe. Domestic violence must stop... now."

The Malta commission will undertake a concerted effort to meet the CoE's demands for a pan-European campaign against domestic violence. This will involve the production of an action plan, as requested of all member states, as well as the sending of reports marking progress to the CoE.

The commission has already started to work towards increasing public awareness and changing attitudes. An exhibition on domestic violence organised by the commission was opened on November 24 by Dolores Cristina, Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, in the ministry courtyard at Palazzo Ferreria, 310, Republic Street, Valletta.

The exhibition is open to the public until December 11 during office hours.