“Domestic violence has always existed in Malta, but I believe that it was something that was accepted and hidden. Raising awareness will make people - both men and women - realise that it is not acceptable,” Marceline Naudi, newly-appointed chairman of the Domestic Violence Commission says in her first interview with the media.

The Domestic Violence Commission was set up in March last; a month after the Domestic Violence Act was enacted in parliament.

Dr Naudi took on the role last December after her predecessor resigned to accept another post.

Whereas in the past it was accepted for the father or husband to be violent, now the commission is working hard to tell women and men that it is not.

“It is useless hoping for a change to happen unless men are also informed that it is not acceptable. Even if they are not perpetrators, men are still affected by domestic violence - if a man's sister or friend or aunt is suffering, they will be affected too.”

Even men have the responsibility to do something about domestic violence, she added.

She explained that the members of the commission held various meetings with Agenzija Appogg as the designated agency, and with the Foundation for Social and Welfare Services's (FSWS) CEO Joe Gerada.

“It is very important for the commission to familiarise itself with the problem of domestic violence in Malta,” said Dr Naudi.

In fact, the members also attended a forum organised by people who held victims of domestic violence.

“Workers from the different agencies and shelters organised a forum where they discussed what is going on, what gaps there are, and if the Act had an impact on their work. Through these meetings, we know what is going on in the field.”

The commission is also in the process of setting up a subcommittee on service development.

“We are still in the process of requesting various agencies to appoint representatives to serve on the subcommittee,” explained Dr Naudi.

The aim of the subcommittee is to improve communication and liaison with people working directly in the field of domestic violence, she said.

“It will also standardise methods of practice and ensure that the service users will have a voice and also look into the possibility of providing training for people working in the field,” said Dr Naudi.

The subcommittee aims to have three practitioners from various agencies including Gozo, such as domestic violence workers, Agenzija Appogg and a service user.

“The subcommittee will ensure that we know what is going on in the field while showing our commitment on the field,” said Dr Naudi.

The Domestic Violence Commission recently organised an exhibition at the Social Solidarity and Family Ministry in Valletta.

“It was organised in collaboration with the Domestic Violence unit and the various shelters,” said Dr Naudi.

“What was so interesting about it was that it had a Hall of Shame and a Hall of Fame. The former gave information about various celebrities and famous people who were perpetrators of domestic violence while the Hall of Fame spoke about celebrities who managed to get out of that situation,” explained Dr Naudi.

“What made the exhibition so important was that it would give women who are in that situation hope,” she said. “Once these women see that even famous people were in that situation and yet managed to escape, they might be encouraged to speak out.”

The exhibition also gave a list of mainstream films that dealt with domestic violence as well as various paintings and handcrafts made by women and children staying in shelters.

“Children also suffer as a result of domestic violence. Even though they might not see their father hitting or abusing their mother, the fact that they hear him is enough.”

It is for this reason that shelters accept both women and children, she said.

“It is very harmful for children and it may continue to affect them throughout their life,” said Dr Naudi.

The Domestic Violence Commission also works to achieve two main aims, she added.

“Firstly, we want to raise awareness about domestic violence in Malta,” she said.

“Secondly, the commission wants to send out the message that they are not victims of domestic violence. Women in that situation are not victims but survivors - they have their own strengths and capabilities.”

Dr Naudi also spoke about the importance of raising awareness about the issue with different associations and professionals.

“In fact, I recently spoke about the Domestic Violence Act at a seminar organised by the Malta Union of Professional Psychologists and at another one organised by the law students association.”

Dr Naudi pointed out that although more women are reporting cases of domestic violence, it is very difficult to monitor or measure how widespread it is since the hidden cases are never reported.

However, she added, there is the need for more research - and that is something the commission hopes to work on in the future.

Another problem is that statistics in the field are not standardised, said Dr Naudi.

“What happens is that the police, Agenzija Appogg and the shelters all have their own statistics but these are not put together in one standard form,” she said.

Furthermore, there are many women who simply go to the Emergency Department or to their own private general practitioner and these cases are never reported, she added.

One of the members of the commission, police inspector Louise Calleja, together with other colleagues, worked on a number of guidelines to standardise the way police officers deal with reports of domestic violence.

Dr Naudi explained that these guidelines were presented to the Police Commissioner and now the commission is waiting for these to be issued to the police.

“Hopefully it will standardise the way police deal with people who deal with domestic violence,” she said.

Domestic Violence Services

The Domestic Violence Services within Agenzija Appogg offers support and social work intervention to victims of abuse and their children and provide shelter where necessary.

Between January and June 2006, the Appogg Domestic Violence Services received 270 new cases, the Appogg emergency shelter Ghabex received 12 new cases and the Perpetrator's Service received four new cases.

The service is made up of a team of professional social workers, who provide support to victims of domestic violence and their children. It aims to support victims at the time of crisis by providing immediate assistance, helping them develop a safety plan and providing emotional support.

The Domestic Violence Services unit was set up in September 1994, and it is committed to the promotion of a society with a zero tolerance to violence.

It services include the Domestic Violence Unit, which deals with adult victims in abusive relationships; an Emergency Shelter which offers refuge for women victims of domestic violence and children; and a Perpetrator's Programme, which deals with male adults who engage in abusive behaviour towards their partners.

The unit provides 24-hour crisis intervention to women suffering violence in intimate and family relationships.

It is also safe refuge to women and children requiring emergency and temporary shelter in a safe environment (such as women in difficulty because of usury, women trying to leave prostitution).

It also aims to increase women's and children's awareness of the dynamics and adverse effects of violence and to help them understand that abuse is neither acceptable nor justified.

The Perpetrator Programme assists perpetrators of domestic violence, that is, males who use violence in intimate relationships, to become aware of, understand and take responsibility for their behaviour.

This is done through attendance in a group programme spanning 22 weeks. Prior to acceptance in to the programme, professionals screen the perpetrators on their suitability for the group.

It is hoped that through attendance in the programme, perpetrators are helped to change from abusive to respectful in their beliefs and, subsequently in their behaviour.

After the group programme, the participants are also encouraged to receive continued support through the support group. The service also liaises with the Domestic Violence Unit on cases where they are working with the partner, so as to provide a feedback loop regarding the progress of the perpetrator. Support on an individual basis is also provided in times of crisis.