The commission on Domestic Violence today unveiled the “biggest and widest” campaign against violence on women.

The campaign, entitled “Love doesn't hurt,” will span over 16 days and is set to launch Thursday with a national conference on youth and gender based violence.

The campaign is part of a worldwide initiative to condemn violence against women and show solidarity with victims of gender based and domestic violence.

A total of 35 events will take place during the two weeks, ending with a solidarity march from Blata l-Bajda to Castille on December 10.

Photo: Jonathan Borg

Cases of domestic violence are the most under reported criminal cases, Equality Minister Helena Dalli said during the launch of the event.

“We need to instill the values of financial independence in young girls,” Dr Dalli said, insisting that women’s financial independence would help them move out of abusive situations.

The Equality Minister also lauded movements like the international #MeToo campaign, which sees women coming forward about their experiences of sexual abuse.

The theme of the event targets the false perceptions that some relationsips had to be violent to be loving, she said.

The commission today also launched a draft policy on media guidelines regarding the reporting of domestic violence. It encourages media outlets to “use sensitivity and good judgement when reporting on survivors’ stories”.