A seminar held yesterday on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention on domestic violence stressed the need for education and raising awareness.
The seminar organised by the Commission on Domestic Violence was attended by different stakeholders, including several police officers. Malta has ratified the convention that came into force on November 1.
The chairperson of the Commission on Domestic Violence, Yana Micallef Stafrace, said the aim of the seminar was to create synergies between the different professionals who work in the field.
In Malta, domestic violence is one of the most unreported crimes. Participants were told the government is working on increasing the allocation of resources required to deal with this problem, and amending the necessary laws to come in line withthe convention.
The convention, adopted in Istanbul by all 47 Council of Europe member states in May, 2011, is the first European treaty specifically targeting violence against women and domestic violence.
The government is working on increasing the allocation of resources required to deal with this problem
It sets out minimum standards on prevention, protection, prosecution and the development of integrated policies. Countries ratifying the treaty are obliged to protect and support victims of such violence.
They must also establish services such as hotlines, shelters, medical services, counselling and legal aid.
According to a recent EU Fundamental Rights Agency report, one in three women (33 per cent or 62 million women) across the 28 EU member states has suffered physical or sexual violence since the age of 15.
Governments bound by the convention will have to take a number of measures, including addressing gender stereotypes and promoting changes in mentality and attitudes about the role of women and girls in society as well as training professionals to work with survivors or women at risk of violence and work closely with specialised NGOs.
The convention also demands that governments provide for both general and specialist support services.