Women march in Valletta demanding 'quicker action' to curb domestic violence

The group of around 50 people left from City Gate in Valletta and marched slowly alonf Republic Street towards the law courts. All dressed in black, the demonstrators carried posters reading “victims of domestic violence can’t wait”, “time can cost a life”, “the fear is real”.

The demonstration was organised by several individuals working in different spheres of society. The murder of Christine Sammut earlier this month brought them together to call for immediate action for the protection of victims of domestic violence.

Sammut was murdered by her former love on December 11. Some four weeks before, she had filed a report at the Rabat police station claiming the man had threatened her with a knife.

Lawyer and Director of the Victim Support Malta Roberta Lepre told MaltaToday that domestic violence is a “real problem” which professionals need to take seriously.

“Doctors, police, lawyers and other professionals must understand how much serious domestic violence really is and immediate action must be taken.”

Lepre recalled that in 2006 a law protecting victims of domestic violence had come into force.

“Four years have since passed, and now we need to see that the law is being implemented,” she stressed.

Asked waht happens to women in different circumstances, such as the recent case in Fgura where a young woman stabbed a man with a knife, while claiming she was protecting herself, Lepre replied: “abroad, lawyers resort to the ‘battered wife syndrome’. However, I am not aware that this is recognised in Malta.”

Carrying a poster that read “take threats seriously”, Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisation member Renee Laiviera said that authorities should see how procedures are being carried out.

“Police need clear guidelines on how to act when victims file a report, both if it’s formal or informal,” Laiviera said. She also claimed that for violence to decrease, there must be balance of power.

“We need to see more women in top posts, especially in parliament.  Domestic violence comes from lack of equality.”

Laiviera explained that men feel empowered because of their status in society.

“Certain men assume that they are superior to women and therefore they can force their power over them,” she claimed.

Participating at the event were also Labour MPs Evarist Bartolo, Owen Bonnici, Leo Brincat and Helena Dalli.

All four of them agreed to the fact that laws surrounding domestic violence should be enforced.

“Law should be enforced when victims report to the police. These are deaths which can be avoided,” Bartolo said.

Labour MP Owen Bonnici criticised the fact that in Malta something bad has to happen for importance to be given to it.

“We should send the message that no form of violence is acceptable,” he said, claiming that no reason is acceptable.

“We sometimes attribute violence to a fit of rage. Violence should be condemned all in the same way irrelevant of the circumstances.”