From 2004 until 2013, NCPE received 42 cases of alleged sexual harassment, but acknowledges an element of under-reporting.

The roots of violence against women lie in the historical imbalance of power between men and women. Hence, inequalities in gender may increase the risk of acts of violence against women and inhibit the ability of those affected to seek protection. The prevention of this violence is thus essential to further safeguard the promotion of gender equality.

Violence against women takes many forms that are interrelated and affect women from before birth to old age. The Istanbul Convention (2011) on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, to which Malta is a signatory, defines violence against women as “a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of gender-based violence that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.

This violence can have a myriad of devastating consequences on victims, including health problems, both mentally and physically, financial struggles and other social consequences, such as stigma and discrimination. Thus violence can have an impact on women’s overall quality of life over an entire lifetime.

Moreover, violence against women can have a ripple effect on society as a whole, including family and friends of victims but, particularly, on children who may suffer a range of behavioural and emotional disturbances.

The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality promotes zero tolerance to violence on women and girls. NCPE is committed to challenge the deeply-rooted inequalities and social norms that perpetuate gender inequalities. It especially works to prevent and combat sexual harassment at the workplace and in the provision of goods and services, by virtue of respective legislation. In fact, NCPE investigates complaints of persons who are sexually harassed.

From 2004 until 2013, NCPE received 42 cases of alleged sexual harassment. The commission also acknowledges an element of under-reporting of sexual harassment by women and men, as confirmed by a study NCPE carried out in 2010. Hence, it encourages victims of sexual harassment to report their cases so that such inequalities and violence are curbed, and gender equality is further safeguarded.

NCPE recognises the importance of making the workplace, besides homes and public spaces, safer for women and girls and free from sexual harassment. In effect, it assists organisations to draft their sexual harassment policies and awards the Equality Mark Certification to companies that safeguard gender equality at the workplace and take measures to prevent sexual harassment.

NCPE acknowledges that the best way to end violence against women is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The role of men and boys is thus fundamental to accelerate progress in preventing and ending violence against women and girls. Prevention should start early in life, by educating and working with young boys and girls to promote respectful relationships based on gender equality.

NCPE provides training in this regard, and, in the coming months, will also be organising training sessions on violence against women and girls to multidisciplinary professionals and legal experts who may encounter victims or perpetrators of violence in their work.

In addition, it will carry out research studies on specific forms of violence against women and girls, namely female genital (FGM) in Malta; violence on older women and men; and on violence, harassment and bullying in schools. These studies would shed more light on the violent experiences of women and girls in specific situations and will thus provide valuable findings for policymakers and for professionals working with victims of violence.

This article was submitted by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.

One Billion Rising campaign

On Friday, Malta took part in the global campaign One Billion Rising for Justice. The local event, coordinated by Victim Support Malta, and in which NCPE also participated, was held in front of the Law Courts in Valletta. It called on women and men everywhere to rise, release, dance and demand justice. It called on survivors to break the silence and release their stories – politically, spiritually, outrageously – through art, dance, marches, ritual, song, spoken word, testimonies and whatever way feels right.

Justice begins when one speaks, releases and acknowledges the truth in solidarity and community. One Billion Rising for Justice is an invitation to break free from confinement, obligation, shame, guilt, grief, pain, humiliation, rage and bondage.

For more information, visit www.onebillionrising.org.

Key facts

• 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

• 30 per cent of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.

• As many as 38 per cent of women’s murders are committed by an intimate partner.

Source: World Health Organisation