President’s Foundation calls for proper protection of domestic violence victims

Lawyer Ruth Farrugia, Director General of the President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society (PFWS), expressed grave concern at the recent fatal example of failure in effectively providing security to victims of domestic violence.

She called upon the authorities to step up safety measures for those individuals who report cases of domestic violence.

Farrugia, a human rights lawyer, said it was time for domestic violence to be acknowledged as an issue of human rights.

"Women have the right to be treated with dignity and to expect protection from aggressors, as reiterated in the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights," Farrugia said.

During a Single Parents Forum, held recently at San Anton Palace and addressed by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, a number of women said they feared they were not being taken seriously when reporting cases of domestic violence to the authorities.

The husband of St Paul’s Bay murder victim Silvana Muscat, had admitted in court of harassing his wife as recently as February, when a court ordered him not to approach his wife.

Hamid Nour Eddine G. Ibrahim, 35, is suspected of having fled to Italy on a Ryanair flight to Bergamo, after his 36-year-old wife of just one year, was found dead in bed in a St Paul’s Bay apartment on Triq l-iSponoz.

Muscat was found in her bed under the bedsheets, in casual wear, with five stab wounds to her body.

She had already filed three domestic violence reports against her husband in the past.

The Times reports that Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela defended police actions against the Libyan man the police took immediate steps in all three instances when reports about Hamid were received.

“In this case, I can state with certainty that the police took all the necessary steps they are obliged to take immediately. He was put under a guarantee, which is different from a protection order. Did she merit having a police officer on guard with her? We now have the benefit of hindsight but don’t forget the court took into consideration the fact he had never once laid a hand on her or, at least, she had never reported physical abuse. Unfortunately, he (allegedly) went to the other extreme by killing her. Following the sentence, had he approached her and, for instance, beat her up, she could have reported him to the police and he would probably have ended up behind bars,” Abela was quoted as saying by The Times of Malta.

The President's Foundation is a non-profit entity that actively works to identify, nurture and promote wellbeing for all. PFWS is committed towards supporting all members of society and aims to provide relevant, appropriate and timely research by seeking innovative methodologies to engage with society for the promotion of peace and unity.

Facebook page: Presidents Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, Tel no: 21484662.