Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis met with NGOs on the issue of domestic violence this afternoon, just prior to a protest that took place outside of Parliament.

The minister met with representatives from the Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Group (SOAR) - a support service offered by NGO St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Women for Women and Moviment Graffitti.

Minister Zammit Lewis said that there was a time when the penalty for the crime of domestic violence was increased, but this did not work.

"We were the ones who implemented the Istanbul Convention, which elevates measures in this regard," he said.

"There are also policies being considered, but we need to open a dialogue with you who are on the frontline in this sector, he told NGOs.

"There are things to be done on an educational and corporate level."

Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rosianne Cutajar said that this is an issue that goes beyond laws. "This is a misogynist mentality that puts women as a property of men."

"We are open for proposals, and we are here with you," she told NGOs.

She said that more women have come forward on this issue, "but we have to make sure that these people do not face a bad fate afterwards."

In response, a representative from SOAR said that a lot of women do not feel safe, "as even when they do what they need to do (like report such violence to the police) they still end up dead."

"Patriarchy exists everywhere not just in terms of the violators, but even in the systems of the court, the representative said.

"We do not know what to tell those who approach us after they tell us that they've taken all the steps required in court."

"We start to lose hope. We want to work together but we cannot waste time and resources "

In comments to the press after the meeting, Minister Zammit Lewis said that the NGOs have a right to protest, and it is important for them to speak out over such atrocious crimes.

Minister Zammit Lewis said that during the meeting they examined what has been done so far, but said that not enough has been done.

The minister said that the government felt they wanted to open an interface with the NGOs and said that another meeting will take place on 13 February.

He said that the biggest problem is society, which needs to change the way it thinks, and the way men think about certain things. He said that the government will need help to do this.

Parliamentary Secretary Cutajar said that it is clear that the consequences are not enough to deter people from committing such crimes.

Asked about the feedback from the NGOs, the ministers said that it was positive, adding that the government came round the table as it is not resting on its achievements, but wants to prevent there being more victims of domestic violence.

When the meeting ended, the protest outside of Parliament began.

One of the NGO representatives, Elaine Compagno from SOAR spoke, and said that they were present in solidarity with all victims of violence against women.

She said that another femicide stains the history of the country. “For us survivors who have escaped our own abusers, who watch in grief and anger as one of our sisters is failed again by the state we ask, who is next!”

“We feel that the State does not understand the danger that leaving or reporting a perpetrator puts us in.”

The representative spoke about changes to the law in the past that created additional barriers to obtaining protection, putting victims and survivors at increased risk. She said that countless survivors feel trapped as they are tired of unsuccessfully trying to access protection and justice services. “Many victims do not feel that the State will protect them while they start procedures.”

The representative called on the State to treat domestic violence as an urgent matter of the State and not as a private matter, to ensure all women are protected from violence, to re-evaluate changes in law that created additional barriers to protection and to evaluate certain procedures and sentences in court where there are clear indicators of a lack of understanding of domestic violence and incompetence.