At least 45 per cent of women in Europe were physically abused by men and one out of five suffered from domestic violence, figures show.

It was estimated that the annual cost of domestic violence in the 27 EU member states could be as high as €16 billion, or €1 million every half hour, the Malta Confederation of Women Organisations said yesterday. However, the annual budgets of EU countries for prevention programmes amounted to much less, it added.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is celebrated today, the confederation joined the European Women’s Lobby to condemn all forms of violence.

It expressed hope that the publication of a study by the Commission on Domestic Violence in the near future would shed more light on the prevalence of domestic violence in Malta.

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