Nearly a third of Maltese are aware of family members or acquaintances who suffered domestic violence and one in five even know of a perpetrator in their circle of friends, according to an EU-wide study.

The survey, conducted among a sample of 500 adult respondents last March, shows the majority are demanding tougher laws.

Almost 87 per cent of Maltese respondents said there should be better enforcement of current laws on domestic violence and 89 per cent argued that penalties should be stepped up to serve as a deterrent.

Asked whether domestic violence was common, the majority of respondents (77 per cent) said it was and 15 per cent considered the problem not to be so widespread.

Domestic violence takes different forms and is not only restricted to physical abuse. In fact, 84 per cent of respondents said they considered psychological violence to be a very serious offence and want it punishable by law on the same level as physical and sexual abuse.

Domestic violence

The survey reports that many feel domestic violence is exacerbated by other problems, like alcohol and drug addiction, unemployment, poverty and poor education.

Seventy-nine per cent of Maltese respondents, a mix of both sexes, said many times women “provoke” abuse against them.

Other member states that obtained a higher score than Malta on perceived provocation by female victims were Lithuania (86 per cent), Estonia (84 per cent) and Cyprus (80 per cent).

From an EU-wide perspective, the survey’s result shows great awareness of domestic violence and a desire for tougher action to clamp down on it. Only two per cent of Europeans are unaware of domestic violence.

The survey indicates that one European in four counts a woman among friends and family as a victim of domestic violence and 87 per cent of those surveyed believed the EU should be involved in the fight against domestic violence.

Domestic violence against men was not included in the study.