Minister for Equality Helena Dalli has said that she will always judge a person according to what they say and what they do, after being asked by The Malta Independent a question concerning the recent spate of online abuse directed towards woman, specifically MPs, MEPs, and political activists, conducted by supposedly respectable members of society.
Ever since the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, which people argue was a result of the culture of dehumanization with regard to the journalist, more and more abusive social media posts targeted towards woman have appeared on news portals.
There was the case of Police Sergeant Ramon Mifsud, who celebrated the journalist's murder. This week Emmanuel Navarro was arraigned after saying that PN MEP Roberta Metsola deserved to be burned alive. Former soldier Felix Zammit said capital punishment should be brought back for people like the MEP.
Recently, former GWU boss Tony Zarb was condemed after he called women protesting outside Castille 'prostitutes.' And the Labour Party accused former PN Secretary General Paul Borg Olivier of bullying over a Faceboo comment with regard to Parliamentary Secretary Julia Farrugia Portelli. Posting a photo of a meeting between the PM and Occupy Justice women, he wrote: "Julia Farrugia Portelli looks uncomfortable listening about political murders. Who knows the reason why? Her face betrays her."
Asked whether this sort of behaviour was symptomatic of a wider attitude towards women within the country, Dalli, who was attending the launch of a 16-day campaign targeting domestic violence, said:
"With the advent of social media, we are now seeing an externalisation of certain beliefs that people held in this country because people are publishing their thoughts for all to see. The messages that are coming are clearly not right. I am all for freedom of expression, but that freedom ends when you begin specifically attacking and offending someone."
She was pressed further as to whether further fines and punishment, specifically targeting online abuse, should be implemented.
"We are currently rounding up legislation on domestic and gender-based violence, and fines are increasing. The law is a living thing and as society evolves, we will always be willing to go back and amend the law to reflect our new reality," Dalli explained.
16-day campaign against domestic and gender-based violence
The minister was attending the launch of a 16-day campaign against domestic and gender-based violence coordinated by the Commissioner on Domestic Violence and a number of public and voluntary organisations.
The campaign, which will take place between 24 November and 10 December, forms part of a wider international movement designed to raise awareness about domestic violence and violence towards women.
The theme of this year's campaign is 'Love does not Hurt', something which the Chairperson of the Commission Joe Gerada said was very prudent for Maltese society, who may often perceive the abuse as a form of love.
Over 35 different events will be taking place which will discuss domestic violence in a multitude of contexts, such as children, older individuals, and within Gozo specifically.
A solidarity march from Blata l-Bajda to Castille Square and organised by Dar Merhba will also take place on 10 December. Everybody is invited to attend.
Other highlights include a special youth parliamentary sitting to discuss and present a resolution on the issue and a series of workshops conducted by MCAST students.
The Dingli Local Council shall also be launching a pilot project within the locality where legal and social work support for victims of domestic abuse.
Dalli stressed that while women are often the victims of domestic violence, it was important to understand that the term applied to everyone regardless of gender or sexual identity.
She also highlighted the importance of financial dependency, which she said is able to empower victims of abuse to leave the relationship.
The minister explained that both the education sector and the media had crucial roles to play when tackling the issue, and insisted that while robust legislation was certainly being implemented, it would count for nought if an inter-ministerial strategy is not conducted.
"I hope we could live in a society were domestic and gender-based violence is no longer tolerated or accepted in the country; so it is the abusers who feel like outcasts in society," Dalli said.
She also expressed concerns that victims of domestic violence suffer two-fold as they also become victims of homelessness when leaving the abusive relationships.
"The victim always loses, unfortunately, we need to look into a system where it is the abuser who is made to stay in a hostel and undergo treatment. The work these homes do for victims is fantastic, but it is simply not right that it is the victim, and in some cases, the victim's children, are made homeless because of the abuse."