No, it was not a traffic accident, nor any other type of accident, but the murder of yet another woman who was stabbed to death by her estranged partner – the father of their two children. This crime left a murdered woman and two innocent victims who have been left motherless.
The National Council of Women (NCW) condemns this heinous act and asks why there has to be another femicide to start the recycled round of talks, meetings, press releases, Facebook postings and other means of communication between parties, NGOs and the government but which, yet again, dwindle into nothing, since no real measure is taken to change the present situation. We will only know that change has happened when no such news appears – or is heard – in the local media.
Only then can women be assured that their ‘reports’ are taken seriously, that their cries are heard and that support is found in time so that such tragedies can be avoided. Year after year there seems to be a repeat of the same requests – to ensure safety, prompt intervention and support services. Yet although these exist, femicide still happens.
Malta ratified the Istanbul Convention in August 2014 – the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Article 27 – Reporting: Parties shall take the necessary measures to encourage any person witness to the commission of acts of violence covered by the scope of this Convention, or who has reasonable grounds to believe that such an act may be committed, or that further acts of violence are to be expected, to report this to the competent organisations or authorities.
This places a responsibility on each and every citizen without any distinction! The NCW calls upon the government to intensify educational campaigns in schools, in the media and in places of work to create awareness of what constitutes violence; to have adequate reporting accessibility where the woman or girl will find professional assistance; to provide support services and housing to women and children fleeing from domestic violence; for justice to be efficient and to assist NGOs who are doing sterling work by providing them with the tools and funds. Also to offer immediate financial support and shelter if these are required so that the woman will not have to return home where violence is predominent.
The NCW augurs that real commitments for positive change on the part of the authorities and the government are made in the shortest time possible in order to avoid yet another victim.
Mary Gaerty is President of the National Council of Women