Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, said that just three months after the launch of the third National Strategy for Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, measures have been implemented to strengthen the fight against domestic violence and provide more protection to victims.

She said this on being presented with the annual report by the Commission of Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Abuse by Commissioner Samantha Pace Gasan.

The report lists the work done by the Commission, amongst which, was on the third National Strategy on Domestic Violence with the title, ‘Ningħaqdu, Ninvolvu, Nelevaw’ that was launched last November in conjunction to implementing the recommendations of the report on the inquest by Judge Emeritus Geoffrey Valenzia. Buttigieg said that the commitment against domestic violence cannot cease. She said that in the future there will be amendments in the law regarding domestic violence to implement other reccomendations by Valenzia’s report.

She also said that we are obtaining good results from the Hub in Santa Luċija where reports on cases of domestic violence are made. She added that she had a positive reaction from foreign diplomats for the fact that the strategy is designed to also reach out to other communities in the country.

She mentioned that it was a good move to make arrangements for victims of domestic violence who would need a medical certificate to be given priority by the health services when accompanied by the police.

Commissioner Pace Gasan said that the Commission is working hand in hand with various entities, both governmental as well as otherwise, to achieve the measures of the strategy including within the Interministerial Committee whilst carrying out campaigns to raise awareness and train various sectors that are frontliners with cases of domestic violence.