An alarming increase in domestic violence

A common concept of domestic violence is that of an enraged husband or male partner beating his wife or female companion. It is a naive concept and one that is just a fractional aspect – albeit perhaps a major one – of the bigger picture of domestic violence in all its many forms.

Domestic violence includes both physical and psychological abuse perpetrated by adult males towards partners and in some cases vice-versa. It can also con sist of adults of both genders beating or terrorising children, other strategies having forced sexual overtones, the application of mental pressure stress and financial or material deprivation.

In 2011, there were 848 cases of domestic violence reported to the police. During the same year, 1,005 persons were accused of domestic violence.

Statistics show that almost 15 per cent of violent female deaths in Europe are the direct result of domestic violence and that 20 per cent of women in EU countries suffer some form of physical or psychological abuse. In Malta, the figure is 25 per cent, substantially higher.

Research shows that, in Malta, only 50 per cent of abused females actually do something about it by filing an official report. Thus, the real percentage of domestic violence here is much higher than the reported 25 per cent.

Also, projections indicate that, given the higher financial and social pressures or financial deprivation, the trend in domestic and family violence is steadily increasing when incorporated into the general national increase in violence and “rage” figures.

Painting a precise picture of the situation would be a complex and probably infinite process, meaning the remedial assistance that is required can never be fully applied.

During a public dialogue entitled Empowering Women Against Violence, held a few weeks ago, the majority of speakers highlighted a lack of system support and detailed the struggle of violence victims to face daily life.

Many a battered woman has protested that when they go to the police the response is at times “lukewarm”, generally resulting in the offender being sent for and given “a lecture” without any real action being taken. Then, cases that do reach the law courts are usually subject to protracted delays.

There are shelters providing some respite but in such a small country as Malta an enraged partner can easily and quickly find out where the partner has sought refuge.

This lack of support acts discourage violated and abused persons from making official reports, whether in an attempt not to break up the family, or to avoid an escalation of violence as a means of revenge and retribution or on the basis of hopeful but empty promises that a partner is “sorry” and will “reform”.

The delaying tactics of the legal system may also involve an abused person having to face their abuser time and again in long and drawn-out proceedings before the courts.

Most agencies operating in this field are underfinanced, understaffed and under-equipped. Clearly evident too is the fragmentation of those agencies dealing with various aspects, thus increasing bureaucracy and necessitating loss of time and making a solution more difficult to secure.

Has a well-resourced one-stop shop agency ever been considered?

The sad overall picture is one of chronic ugly situations that are not being adequately tackled for whatever reason. Such cases of domestic violence, which, even if rarely, can and do end up in tragedies, are a despicable blot on a society that prides itself on the advancement of its technological adaptation, yet, pitifully lacks the ways and means to tackle such a festering sore.