Society urged to be more sensitive about violence against women

On the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women yesterday, Amnesty International Malta Group (AIMG) called on society for increased sensitivity on the issue.

"In an age when society is struggling to achieve gender equality, elimination of violence against women is of major importance, and the first step towards change is in its recognition and understanding", Alan Pulis, the group's PRO said.

One in three women throughout the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, statistics show. Cases of violence against women are not uncommon and are not specific to any particular region in the world. Malta is no exception, Mr Pulis said. In fact, in the first half of 2007, the police received no fewer than 153 reports of domestic violence.

Fear and shame, however, often stop women from speaking out. Therefore, the actual number is probably much higher, he said.

Studies show that, in the majority of cases, the abuser is someone known to the victim. Violence comes in many forms, ranging from the evident, such as rape and beatings, to the less apparent verbal and psychological abuses.

All governments have the responsibility to protect citizens from abuse, Mr Pulis said. They are in duty bound to pass laws that specifically address violence against women, thereby offering them protection. In some cases, there is not only a lack of such legislation, but it is the government itself, through the judiciary system, which allows abuse to occur.

Mr Pulis referred to the report of a Saudi Arabian rape victim, who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison for the heinous crime of being gang raped.

"Just two days ago, we received reports of a woman who was repeatedly sexually abused after being jailed with 20 men in Brazil. The girl, who may have been as young as 15, was made to have sex for food," said AIMG coordinator Nikki Abela.

"Stories like this also indicate that, on an international level, governments are slacking," Ms Abela continued.

Of course, violence did not only occur against women. Many men have also been victims, AIMG highlighted. Although statistics show that women are much more on the receiving end, days like today, which call for its elimination, do not, in any way attempt to mask the existence of violence against men, it said.

The phenomenon of violence against women makes women fear men and perpetuates stereotypes of the aggressive male, which most men do not necessarily fit into.

"In light of this, this day should be taken as an opportunity to address the issue from all angles and pledge support to put a halt to all forms of such violence," AIMG said.

The Labour Party's spokesman for women's rights, Helena Dalli, said that while domestic violence was condemned, Maltese law put too much pressure on the victim, who could stop court proceedings against the perpetrator of the crime, irrespective of the damage the family, including the children, and society would have suffered.

The law, she said, needed to be strengthened by removing responsibility from the victim, who was often forced to ask to stop the court case.

It was also time to consider the economic effects of domestic violence, which also affected the labour market due to sick leave and loss of employment, for example.

The problem needed to be seriously addressed, Ms Dalli said. It was hard to imagine the trauma victims of violence experienced and the problems they faced to escape it.

The country's statistics were merely the tip of the iceberg, she said.