Over the weekend, Girl Guides turned up in Valletta to raise awareness about violence in relationships, in conjunction with Agenzija Zghazagh and the National Council of Women.

The demonstration formed part of the Stop the Violence campaign organised by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), to which the MGG is affiliated. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the violence and abuse faced by many girls and women across the world.

During the event, psychologist and NCW councillor Priscilla Muscat stressed that the fight against gender-based violence was not solely women’s battle, and that awareness campaigns should also involve boys.

This is also being addressed by the MGG and the WAGGGS which, together with UN Women, has developed a non-formal, coeducational curriculum on ending gender-based violence called Voices against Violence.

The curriculum, which is designed to engage children and young people in reflecting on gender-based violence, was actually piloted in Malta, with the involvement of 150 girl guides of all ages. The local campaign started last October, with the organisation of a survey analysing the various types of violence, and its repercussions, among students of local post-secondary and tertiary education. The survey results are to be published in the coming months, along with a detailed analysis.

The truth is that violence still exists in our society. It is evident through the number of people who are charged in court. But at the same time, we must not jump to conclusions. Just because the number of people (mostly males) charged is increasing, it does not automatically mean that there are more cases of violence taking place. It could also mean that the police are doing a good job and that more women are coming forward, rather than suffering in silence.

Just a few years ago, when a woman was the victim of domestic violence, the only places available to turn to were shelters run by nuns. Nowadays it is different, the police have a unit set up which reacts urgently to such reports. The courts also now employ the practice whereby a person accused of domestic violence must leave the matrimonial home while procedures are in vigore. There is still a lot left to be done. The plague of domestic violence will never be eradicated. But we must also not limit ourselves to think that violence is only physical. There are cases where psychological abuse is the order of the day, where one partner belittles and manipulates the mind and feelings of the other spouse or partner.

Violence can never be excused. And the only way to deal with it is to talk about it and bring it to the fore. When an issue is not discussed, it becomes taboo, and the less it is talked about, the more taboo and ‘accepted’ it becomes. And just like with other issues which have suddenly become a lot more talked about, it is through opening the eyes of the younger generations and encouraging them to openly discuss such matters, that we can tackle it.