Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina, together with the Commission for Domestic Violence and the Association for Local Councils, yesterday launched a campaign aimed at creating more awareness of violence against women. This information campaign is part of a larger campaign being organised by the European Council for the fight against violence against women, including domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a reality that touches every society all over world and which does not make a distinction between age and class. For this reason the European Council has started a campaign to raise awareness against domestic violence, that reaches not only the concerned authorities, but also goes beyond, and involves the local councils.

Minister Cristina praised the collaboration between the Association of Local Councils and the Commission against Domestic Violence.

The Chairperson of the Commission against Domestic Violence, Marceline Naudi stated that the law against domestic violence issued by the commission came into effect a few months before the beginning of this campaign by the European Council was initiated. “Collaboration with the Association of Local Councils has been a positive one, with the aim of reaching more people within society with our message against domestic violence,” added Dr Naudi.

On behalf of the Local Council’s Associations, Michael Cohen said that violence goes against human dignity and for this reason society is responsible for working towards reducing it. “We have a duty to give humanity its dignity back by saying no and breaking the silence,” said Mr Cohen.

Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has been elected as the representative for our country in the European Council’s Parliamentary Assembly campaign: Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women.

The Bus Shelter Campaign shall be spread all over Malta and Gozo for a number of months. Part of this campaign is sponsored by Face Displays Ltd.