A University of Malta research study has shed light on the problem of child abuse in Malta, highlighting ‘very high’ percentages of child abuse cases, and a ‘very small’ percentage of individuals who do seek help, with many deciding to seek help decades later.

Moreover, out of 484 respondents in the questionnaire, only 27% (133) answered that they sought support for experiencing child abuse, whereas 73% of respondents (351) said that they did not seek any type of support.

The main researcher of the project, and psychologist Roberta Attard spoke to The Malta Independent on the most shocking findings in the research, to which she said that there are ‘very high’ percentages of abuse in Malta, specifically emotional abuse, which is very often neglected.

“We speak a lot about physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect, but not on emotional abuse, which we know leaves enormous effects on the individual’s mental health,” Attard said, adding that as children grow, this affects their potential and opportunities.

She also said that the research found that individuals who have gone through abuse as children, particularly subject to their parents, are worried about having their own children, and how it affects them as parents.

“We cannot not take note of this type of abuse, as there is inter-generational transmission, from the effects of the abuse,” Attard said.

Attard said that participants in the research were clearly worried about this.

Asked what the study recommends to be done in an urgent manner, Attard said that there is a strong fragmentation of the current services, and that these must be united as there is a very small percentage of respondents who do seek help.

“Respondents also said that even five, 10 years ago, they did not seek services available at school,” Attard said.

One of the reasons why, was because the people in that role, such as counsellors or social workers, would fail to be at schools regularly, particularly when the children would need them. Attard said that it is important to always have someone available to offer these services at schools.

Attard also pointed out the court system. She said that almost all participants said that they would “never” seek help from the courts, or to bring their abuser to court, fearing repercussions that their family could suffer, especially if they had reported any abuse.

“There were also respondents who said that it was shocking for them that instead of taking the perpetrator out of the home, the child is taken away from their own home, their comfort and serenity, and put into a different environment,” Attard said, adding that this is additional trauma for children.

She also pointed out the issue of time-barring in child abuse cases, as children often remain silent on what they have gone through, to protect someone else in the family, or due to fear.

Attard said that as children, they often do not know that they are going through abuse, and so they do not report.

She continued that children often only report when they have the strength to, which could also be 40 years after the abuse happened.

Attard said that in such a case, the abuse would be time-barred.

“If we truly want to protect children, we need harsher penalties, a specific, therapeutic program for people who abuse of children, and remove time-barring restrictions,” Attard said.

The research was commissioned by Bank of Valletta through the initiative of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, after consultation with the Malta Safeguarding Commission. Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing Andrew Azzopardi acted as project manager, with Attard as main researcher, along with researcher support officers Annabel Cuff, Graziella Vella and Olga Formosa.

BOV CEO Kenneth Farrugia said that it was important for the bank to support this research as child abuse is “in the shadows of society,” and is not given enough importance.

Farrugia said that the bank chose to invest in the project in order to see legal changes based on the recommendations, to ensure children’s protection.

Attard thanked BOV for supporting the project, saying that it is important that researchers and professionals shed a spotlight on issues, and for the research to develop into action.

She said that after all these years, and despite the awareness and services, there are still severe difficulties children face.

Azzopardi said that a third of respondents in the study have reported their abuse after 10 years, or longer.

“We need to improve the tools we have. We need the court to be more child friendly, speedier when it comes to children’s needs, and institutions such as scouts should be the first point of contact for children to find comfort, and seek for help,” Azzopardi said.

University of Malta Rector Alfred Vella also encouraged authorities and entities to act on the research’s recommendations, to find solutions and implement.