The Commission on Domestic Violence intends to carry out a survey to assess how many cases of abuse go unreported.
"We have no idea of the number of people who are suffering at the hands of their nearest and dearest, week in week out, and not disclosing their situation to anyone," commission president Marceline Naudi said.
"This year, the commission will be conducting a research study to look at the prevalence of domestic violence to give us a better idea of what there is out there that we do not know about because we only have the number of people who come forward," she added.
Recent figures showed that reports of domestic violence increased by 25 per cent last year, reaching 602 cases compared to 477 in 2008. The majority of the victims, 467, were women and 59 cases involved children.
The Home Affairs Ministry said this did not necessarily indicate a rise in domestic violence but could just be the result of more awareness.
Dr Naudi and a spokesman for Appoġġ Agency agreed that, while increased awareness may have contributed to the rise in reported cases, there were other contributing factors.
For instance, since the introduction of the Domestic Violence Act, in 2006, third parties could report abuse to police who, in turn, could initiate court proceedings without the victim having to file a report.
"As far as I am informed, the police have also been receiving in-service training over the last year on the issue of domestic violence and the importance of following up reports ex officio (without a formal report)," Dr Naudi added.
Appoġġ said the setting up of the commission helped develop policy and awareness on domestic violence through educational campaigns.
Violent crimes against women, including murders, reported in the media also encouraged more victims to report their plight, Appoġġ said.
In one case in November last year, 35-year-old Ukranian Liudymyla Nkytiuk was found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft. Her husband, Sergii, has been charged with the murder.
In another case, Catherine Agius, 40, was stabbed to death in Tarxien last July. Her husband, Roger, turned himself in to police and now stands charged with murder.
The case had spurred several women organisations to join forces to call for preventative action to stop domestic violence by offering help to victims and addressing the behaviour of perpetrators before it was too late.
Violence against women is a universal phenomenon and the perpetrators are often well known to their victims, according to the World Health Organisation.
Appoġġ said its Domestic Violence Unit received an average of 537 new cases a year between 2000 and 2008. About 76 cases were referred to the Għabex shelter each year and an average of 37 perpetrators were referred to the agency's Perpetrator's Service annually.
Victims who feel at risk or in danger should tell someone - a trusted member of the family or a close friend - and seek immediate help and file a police report. They can also seek help from the Domestic Violence Unit.
Perpetrators, who want to seek help, can start by talking to their doctor or seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist who may refer them to the Perpetrators' Services of Appoġġ.
Appoġġ can be contacted on 2295 9000 or on freephone 179.