The Malta Independent 10 February 2025, Monday
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Court hearings on domestic violence cases have more than doubled - Ministry for Justice

Friday, 17 January 2025, 14:36 Last update: about 23 days ago

Following the addition of 2 more magistrates specialized in domestic violence cases, the number of hearings on domestic violence rose from a maximum average of 3 per week to 8, the Ministry for Justice said Friday.

In a statement, the ministry said that in this legislature, the government increased the number of magistrates focused on domestic violence from one to three with the task of hearing summary cases of domestic violence, as well as the compilation of evidence for cases of domestic violence. It added that the hearings that deal with domestic violence increased from an average of 2-3 to 8 hearings per week.

The Ministry said that in 2024, 125 compilations of evidence were carried out with 110 of these cases being closed meanwhile, 1,845 cases were introduced and out of them 1,549 cases were closed.

It continued that the government already confirmed its intention to continue improving the specialisation of the judicial corps, including through an increase in the number of magistrates, with the aim of continuing to build on the decision taken by the government to make a specialization on cases of domestic violence.

The ministry concluded in saying that the government will continue investing in more awareness campaigns that will allow more persons to receive required assistance and noted that the increase in reports of domestic violence is proof of the increased awareness on the matter and the services available. It reiterated its "constant" appeal that this "social scourge" should not be politicised.


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