Every month, around 40 victims of crime – mainly domestic violence – knock on the door of a specialised police unit that supports women at risk of becoming victims of femicide.

Distinct from homicide, femicide is usually committed by an intimate partner behind closed doors and is globally a leading cause of premature death for women.

Throughout the past 10 years, 15 women have been killed by their partner in Malta. In the same period, on the other hand, one woman has been accused of killing two men.

 The police recognise femicide as stemming from domestic abuse and have increased their efforts at encouraging more people to report domestic violence.

Apart from training officers how to deal with such abuse at police stations, the Victim Support Unit, set up last year, reaches out to victims and supports them throughout their ordeal, even after the case is decided by the courts, if need be.

Inspector Sylvana Gafa’, who heads the Victim Support Unit, told this newspaper that before setting up the unit, the police realised how difficult it was for victims to seek support after lodging a report.

So instead, the unit reaches out to such victims offering its guidance. “Several feel lost after filing a report – they have no idea how the case will proceed and where they stand. We host them in a warm environment in Floriana and provide crisis counselling, follow up on their case and refer them to existent support services, such as the national agency Appoġġ and other NGOs. We remain in touch with the victim for as long as they need, even after the court decision.”

We remain in touch with the victim for as long as they need

When a person lodges a report at a station, the officer briefs the victim about the service and can alert the unit immediately with the click of a button. In the meantime, the unit’s team goes through the various reports filed by vulnerable victims and calls them up to see whether they need any help.

Last year, the unit was run by two officers and it supported a total of 347 people, half of whom were domestic violence victims. The number continues to rise this year. As the unit’s team grew to four, around 40 different victims started finding support at the unit every month.

More than half are victims of domestic violence, Inspector Gafa’ noted.

“These are the most vulnerable victims, including mugged elderly people and victims of sexual abuse. The majority of the cases are related to domestic violence and we have one person at the unit who is specifically focused on domestic violence survivors.”

Domestic violence is the third most reported crime to the police, following theft and damage. The number of such cases reported to the police in 2016 reached 1,379, while the total stood at 1,378 reports in 2017.

Inspector Gafa’, who in the past formed part of the Vice Squad and is a qualified counsellor, has noted a rise in abuse by children towards their parents. This is also considered domestic violence, but the majority of reported abuse remains that by men over their female partner. 

“Hopefully, knowing that they will receive our guidance and support, victims will feel more encouraged to report domestic violence, and this will help prevent femicide.

“Most of domestic violence takes place behind closed doors, so we won’t know about it unless there is a lodged report. Unfortunately, the abuse escalates by time, so the more we meet victims at the beginning of the abuse, the more likely we are to prevent femicide.”

Some victims might not have access to any means of communication or might not be allowed to leave the house as a result of the abuse. Others might be admitted to hospital or a shelter as soon as they file a report. In such cases, the unit reaches out to the victims, wherever they are.

Asked about women who do not feel comfortable speaking to male officers at police stations, Inspector Gafa’ said the police were aware of this concern, and when a victim turns up to file a report, the officers try to bring in a female officer from another station in the same district.

A protestor holds up a placard during a ‘One too Many’ protest in 2016 in Valletta that was prompted by the murder of Eleanor Mangion Walker, mother of a nine-year-old girl. Photo: Darrin Zammit LupiA protestor holds up a placard during a ‘One too Many’ protest in 2016 in Valletta that was prompted by the murder of Eleanor Mangion Walker, mother of a nine-year-old girl. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Inspector Gafa’ knows that domestic violence is very complex. Some victims forgive the perpetrator throughout the proceedings, and the case is therefore most often dropped by the courts. Eventually, the victim files another report, and the case starts all over again.

“We want these women to know that we will still provide the same support and help, no matter how many times they file a report.

“We also know that it is difficult for some to leave an abusive relationship, especially if they were brought up in an abusive household. But we provide support and guidance on how to start coping independently. We have seen women whose lives were transformed in months, after they took the first step and reported the abuse.”

What is being done?

Over recent years, victims of domestic violence have complained that they face fresh trauma at court and police stations.

The government has launched an EU co-funded project called ‘Full Cooperation Zero Violence’ through its Human Rights and Integration Directorate, which includes the training of some 700 professionals who come face-to-face with survivors – including police officers, nurses, social workers, midwives, teachers and probation officers.

This week, Parliament approved the Domestic Violence Bill. The law, among other things, tightens sanctions against perpetrators of domestic violence, rape, revenge porn and other such crimes, and transposes the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention into local law. 

Meanwhile, Malta is now hosting the first European Observatory on Femicide through the University of Malta in the Department of Gender Studies.

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