Cases of domestic violence seem to be on the rise. It may be because, in the past, such vile acts were hidden from public eye and few, if any, reports were lodged to the police.

Today, the situation is different. Not only because more and more women, and in some cases men, are plucking up enough courage to complain to the police, but there are also several other ways for them to seek help.

Agencies, such as Appogg, offer a multitude of services to victims of domestic violence. Many resort to such services to escape from a situation that, for “normal” families, is hard to understand.

During the week when the Domestic Violence Bill started being debated in Parliament – the second reading has since been approved – Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina, who is piloting it, appropriately paid a visit to the Ghabex Women’s Shelter, which provides assistance to women and children who are abused in their home.

Figures given during the visit showed that the extent of the problem is bigger than what might be perceived. In all, about 800 cases of domestic violence are reported to Appogg every year. Of these, 550 are new cases while the remaining 250 are relapses.

This actually means that there are more than two cases of domestic violence being reported every single day, on average. Considering that many others remain unknown because these people can’t get themselves to report the abuse they are suffering from – physical as well as emotional – the problem has, unfortunately, grown.

What is important is that the Domestic Violence Bill is aimed to tackle this problem. So far, reports of domestic abuses needed to be filed by the victim of such abuse, and it is not always the case that such victims have the determination to go ahead and lodge a report. In many instances, the abuser threatens the victim not to seek help, otherwise the abuse would become worse.

Once the new law is enacted, reports of domestic abuse could start to be filed by relatives and friends of the victims, thereby releasing the onus of such reports from the person who is abused.

It stands to reason that, once this bill becomes law, one should expect an escalation of reports and it is hoped that the services offered would be able to manage a larger number of complaints.

What is also hoped for is that the system will not mean that any argument between a husband and wife is reported by the neighbours. Every family has its bad days, as we all know, but an argument and some shouting does not necessarily mean abuse. One has to be careful not to exaggerate matters and not use the system badly.

Let it be there for the real victims of domestic abuse, for those women and children who are, night and day, living in terror because the man of the house dishes out punches and slaps for no reason; for those women who might not be physically hit but are emotionally broken down with continuous disparaging remarks; and for those few men – because, yes there are men too, who are suffering from abuse in the home (35 of them lodged reports last year) – who are psychologically shattered because of their partner’s behaviour.

Agenzija Appogg is already stretched to the limit in handling genuine domestic abuse cases and its resources should not be wasted in dealing with frivolous or petty complaints.

Persons who really are abused in the home need all the help they can get in their circumstances, and it is therefore imperative that those who provide them with assistance do not lose their precious time.