Malta provides impressive support to domestic violence victims but the country needs to step up its intervention with perpetrators, according to the woman who designed the UK’s first professional postgraduate qualification in domestic violence.
“I was impressed with the support that victims are given in Malta because in the UK we don’t always have 24-hour help at our shelters. I am also impressed with the social workers specialised in domestic violence who are assigned to victims,” Ruth Jones said.
Malta lags behind the UK in intervention with perpetrators
The weaker element is intervention work with perpetrators, which is optional, she said, adding that sometimes perpetrators needed to be pushed into assisting their family through court-mandated programmes.
Dr Jones, 50, was brought up in an abusive household and later went into an abusive relationship. Dr Jones wanted to give something back in return for the support she received so she started voluntary work.
She eventually moved to education and training and launched an MA in domestic abuse.
The mother-of-four is now a senior lecturer, researcher and consultant and has designed the UK’s first professional postgraduate qualification in domestic violence, which is approved by the Home Office.
This year was a “big year” for Dr Jones. Awarded an OBE, she also became the founding director of the University of Worcester’s National Centre for the Study and Prevention of Violence and Abuse launched in June.
The centre also trains professionals, including probation officers and paramedics and takes awareness raising campaigns to schools to challenge young people’s perceptions of gender roles.
Dr Jones was in Malta during the past week with one of her staff members and former students, 47-year-old Beverley Gilbert, to meet Marceline Naudi, JosAnn Cutajar and Brenda Murphy from the Department of Gender Studies at the University of Malta and staff at the Commission on Domestic Violence.
“We’ve learnt a lot during our trip here. We visited some of the shelters and will be taking back a lot of good practices on how domestic violence victims are supported here.
“I particularly like the different stages within the shelter interventions where victims receive specialised support throughout until they get back on their feet.
“However, what we noticed from the few days that we have been here is that Malta lags behind the UK in intervention with perpetrators,” she said.
Ms Gilbert explained that the UK system includes a court-mandated programme for perpetrators.
“A lot of our men may be initially reluctant to take an intervention programme as perpetrators because of the shame involved. But we found a high number of men who once they find themselves in a group with others within the same situation, they realise that they are not monsters. We then focus on their actions and how to change their attitude. This approach has been successful in the UK,” she said.
Dr Jones hopes to work with the University of Malta on student and staff exchanges, and exchange good practices with the Commission on Domestic Violence.
Apart from “wanting to change the world”, Dr Jones wants to expand the centre, respond to topical issues and keep giving others a voice.