Women’s rights groups warn against victim blaming in domestic violence cases

The statement comes as the leader of the Nationalist Party faces accusations of domestic abuse against his wife

4 January 2019, 9:56am
by Yannick Pace

2 min read

The MCWO said that claims of domestic violence should be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly regardless of those involved

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The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has insisted that all claims of domestic violence should be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated “regardless of those involved”.

While it does not mention him by name, the statement comes amid controversy surrounding Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia who has been accused by his wife Nickie Vella de Fremeaux of violence against her and their children.

Delia filed an urgent court application on Christmas eve asking the court to let him see his five children, with Vella de Fremeaux stating in her reply that Delia was violent towards her and their children.

The couple has been going through an acrimonious separation, with several family private messages and videos having been leaked to the public in recent weeks.

The latest developments have divided opinion, with some arguing that Delia must step down until his name is cleared from the allegations. Others have insisted that one cannot hope to understand to inner workings of a family and that the case should be allowed to take its course.

“Domestic violence reflects the dominant patriarchal culture which is prevalent in our country, and which unfortunately has been normalized in many ways,” the MCWO said.

The confederation is an umbrella organisation representing 12 local member organisations which collectively represent around 24,000 female members. The MCWO is a full member of the Brussels-based European Women’s Lobby.

The MWCO stressed that domestic violence is a crime which cannot be tolerated.

“Whenever claims of domestic violence are exposed, these claims should be taken seriously and all cases should be thoroughly investigated regardless of those involved,” the MWCO said.

It reminded the public that “it takes a lot of courage for survivors of domestic violence to lodge a claim and try and bring it to an end”.

“For this reason, these persons should not be victimized further or be threatened in any way. Instead they should be given the support they need to exit from this situation.”

Yannick Pace was a MaltaToday reporter between 2016-2020