Victims of sexual assault will be provided with more support services and therapeutic care with the signing of a new social public partnership agreement, Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity Michael Falzon announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Falzon, who was accompanied by Head of Care for Victim Support Malta Sarah Jane Mifsud, announced during a press conference that the agreement between the government and the CVSA will provide sexual assault victims with much needed support through the offering of four integral services: Legal services, Consultation services, Psychiatric services and Crisis Intervention services.

All these services will be provided free of charge and will be provided according to the victim’s individual needs, Mifsud said.

She added that all those who need support will be provided care, no matter how recent the abuse took place.

The government will be allocating €300,000 to Victim Support Malta to continue providing care to victims and operating the four aforementioned services. This amount will be distributed over a three year period.

The services will also contribute to overcoming the stigma around sexual assault and aim to empower victims to report any abuse they have endured.

April is Sexual Abuse Awareness Month and Falzon said that the signing of the agreement during this month will encourage the public to reflect on the difficulties many victims have experienced. He concluded by saying that society has more work to do address the severity of sexual abuse and remove its taboo status.