The police force will be training more officers to help victims of domestic violence and investigate such cases, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said this morning.
Speaking at a press conference to mark the coming into force of Malta’s accession to the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention on Violence on Women Dr Mallia said that police stations will also be upgraded so that people who suffer domestic violence can be heard privately. The police would also have facilities to offer temporary shelter in extreme cases.
He said domestic violence was a reality which was growing in Malta, with 940 cases having been reported so far this year. There were 4,102 cases in the past four years. The numbers, he said, had doubled from four years ago, but it was not clear whether this was a result of more case, or more reporting.
The minister, as well as Public Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli, appealed to victims to come forward and not to continue to live in fear.
The Istanbul Convention focuses on standards of dealing with domestic violence and prosecution of cases.
Dr Mallia said the members of the police Rapid Intervention Unit would also be better trained as the first contact point for victims of domestic violence.
Yana Micallef Stafrace, Commissioner on Domestic Violence said the commission would be launching an education campaign to encourage victims to report abuse.
Dr Dalli underlined the importance of police work to counter domestic violence and urged more women to join the police since victims – often women – found it easier to speak to policewomen.
She said that domestic violence was a scourge which not only affected the victims, but also their children and also the economy, with the victims under-performing at work, or having to give up.
Malta signed the Istanbul convention in July. The convention binds the government to implement measures and adopt legislation and policies to classify all forms of violence against women as a violation of human rights.
Violence covered by the convention include psychological, stalking, sexual harassment, physical and sexual, including rape, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced abortion and forced sterilisation.
In line with the ratification of the convention, provisions to address female genital mutilation, forced marriage and forced sterilisation were recently included in the Maltese Criminal Code.