As part of a 16-day campaign with the theme: 'Domestic Violence is Everyone's Business', the Commission on Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence organised a conference on the role of males in the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence.
The aim of this conference was to offer a platform to stakeholders coming from various fields to share their expertise on how to strengthen the role of men and boys in the prevention of violence.
Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg explained how international research shows that the stereotypes and norms associated with the role of gender in society has led to women's role being considered one way and men's role being considered another way.
"It is precisely this patriarchal system that we must address by investing in more educational campaigns that convey a clear message - violence is never acceptable under any circumstances."
The Commissioner on Domestic Violence and Gender Based Violence Audrey Friggieri said that such initiatives show that the Commission is continuing to spread more and more knowledge about this phenomenon that facilitates violence based on gender and domestic violence.
She added that during the discussion between social partners, participants had the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas on this subject, "so that together we can better understand how we can arrive at more respectful and equal relations between the sexes, and then for the prevention of abuse and violence in society."
This conference was also addressed by Dr. Declan Coogan, an expert from the University of Galway in Ireland, where he shared his experience of working with men and boys who are victims of violence, as well as men and boys who commit domestic and gender-based violence, with the Maltese experts
This discussion focused on what can be done in order to fully integrate the role of men and boys on an individual and collective level in the fight against domestic violence and gender-based violence.
Last November, 40-year old, mother of two Bernice Cassar was killed, allegedly by her husband.
42-year old Roderick Cassar is currently charged with shooting his wife in the head and chest, leading to her death.
This case is the first one in Malta's criminal history that is being tried as a femicide in front of the courts, as per a new legal amendment introduced earlier this year.