Elaine Compagno, general manager of the Women for Women Foundation, stated that domestic violence and violence against women are not genuine priorities for the government, as legal delays, a judiciary resistant to training, and a lack of political will are causing the system to fail vulnerable women.

The WFW Foundation, an NGO supporting women's well-being and economic independence, was born out of a Facebook group that today boasts over 60,000 members.

Compagno described the group as a safe space where women share their struggles, seek support, and mobilise to help others.

Founder of the group Francesca Fenech Conti said that her vision was to create a "sisterhood" where women support one another.

She spoke about how societal limitations still affect middle-aged women, some of whom never had the opportunity for an education. Having gone to university at 45, Fenech Conti said it transformed her life, inspiring her to start the group and advocate for gender equality.

As the group grew, women began seeking assistance for other women beyond the online platform. One of the first cases involved raising money to pay an electricity bill for a woman who was in financial difficulty.

"Over time, I have met a lot of women who expressed their shock to learn of other women's experiences, because women before Women for Women did not have the space to talk about issues among a large group of other women. The issues came to the surface," Compagno said.

Compagno said a lot of women could also relate to issues other women were facing, having been there themselves. She said that this strengthened this "sisterhood".

Seeing the increasing need, a group of women from Facebook group got together and decided to establish a formal foundation in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The foundation has its own board and provides support services such as physical aid, second-hand clothing, groceries and essential items.

"We are not a food bank, but on a case-to-case basis, and in collaboration with social workers, we ensure women receive perishables like fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy items that food banks cannot stock," Compagno said.

Compagno said that some of the women the foundation helps have found themselves in very desperate situations, but many of them are "on their way" to make a better life for themselves.

"And then they meet an obstacle, which could set them back much further. It is a shame not to come in at that moment and just help them make it to the other side of this issue," Compagno said.

A significant need is mobile phones, which are crucial for women's safety. "We receive frequent requests from shelter social workers for mobile phones," Compagno said, pushing on the importance of funding for such essential resources affecting the safety of domestic violence victims.

Payment of maintenance should be enforced by the government

Beyond material aid, the foundation also provides free contraception, recognising the role of reproductive autonomy in women's empowerment.

"Some women are in controlling relationships where this choice is taken away. We give them the resources to take control of their lives," Compagno said.

Financial struggles, particularly in single-parent households, are another key issue.

"Some women live paycheque to paycheque, and child maintenance is often not enforced," Fenech Conti said. She criticised the legal system for placing the burden on women to pursue unpaid support through the courts.

"If you don't pay taxes, the government chases you. Why doesn't it enforce child maintenance in the same way?" Fenech Conti said, adding that many women end up giving up on ever receiving such support.

Fenech Conti said that some women find themselves in a hole from which they're unable to climb out. "We recognise their potential, keep them close, and help them with what they need to get to the top," she said.

The foundation also works to increase women's visibility. It recently launched a calendar celebrating women in leadership and highlights female role models, particularly in the health sector.

The calendar, entitled Women who lead - Trailblazers in health,' highlights 14 women and their achievements.

"It's important for young girls to see women in key positions," Fenech Conti said.

The foundation is also leading an event on 22 February at Xara Lodge, Rabat, Malta, titled, Women's Health and Wellbeing Expo 2025: A celebration of empowerment and wellness, organised by WFW for the third year running.

The gathering provides a platform for discussions, networking and showcasing products and services that promote women's wellness across all life stages. The proceeds are in aid of the foundation and the event will be held between 9am and 4pm.

"It is important to have representation, women in the spotlight, to be seen, especially in leadership positions, even if they're not well-known personalities," Compagno said.

Companies can support the foundation's work in meaningful ways

Compagno urged businesses to support the foundation in meaningful ways, noting that corporate partnerships are crucial.

While some companies offer financial support, others may want to help in other ways, she said.

Compagno said that the foundation enjoys giving visibility to companies with positive practices and commended a company, which has decided to start giving menstrual leave to its female employees, adding that the government should adopt a similar measure.

She continued that menstruation is a particular issue which those born female will face, and because of the long-standing patriarchal society, it is not regarded as an important issue.

Fenech Conti said that some women may also not understand the need for a menstrual leave, however, there are those women who "would be in total agony" when they begin menstruating.

Compagno said that companies who are paying attention deserve all visibility.

The biggest challenge the foundation faces is certainly funding, Compagno said.

"We are not a money-making enterprise. We must always think outside the box on how we can raise funds. We can only afford so many staff, and rely on volunteers," Compagno said.

Moreover, she said that corporate partnerships are critical to the foundation's survival.

Compagno said that the culture around volunteering in the country "needs work".

"Perhaps not everyone understands how important their role is when they become volunteers," Compagno said, praising the dedicated volunteers at the foundation.

One way companies can help is also by seconding one of their employees for a day a week, for example, Compagno said, for more hands-on involvement.

"If five companies each seconded an employee one day a week, that would significantly strengthen our operations," she said, allowing the foundation to have more human resources to apply for EU projects, for example.

She said that a day a year would not have the impact the foundation is looking for. "When it comes to businesses, they need to truly self-examine what they do and ask themselves honestly; are they just ticking a box? Or do they truly want to make an impact?" Compagno said.

Judiciary resists training on violence against women

Addressing gender-based violence, Compagno criticised slow legislative changes and a lack of urgency in government action.

Compagno said that the biggest issue was that domestic violence and violence against women "is not truly a priority for government".

She continued that it only becomes a "priority" when the government needs "to be seen to be doing something" for example in November, for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, or else, when a woman is murdered.

She pointed to the delayed electronic tagging bill, which had been in discussion for "years", and the judiciary's resistance to training.

"The police receive more training than the judiciary, which is a huge gap," she said.

Compagno said that the Gender and Domestic Violence Commission has made leaps and bounds, and the network of NGOs working in this area collaborates very well together.

"So, the government has no excuse, because we do all the homework for them. We have been providing them with any information and recommendations they need for a long time. But there is no political will," Compagno said.

She said that in most cases they encounter, when they ask struggling women if they're being paid child maintenance, 19 out of 20 would say they are not receiving child support.

The foundation also advocates for victims' rights, and Compagno argued that domestic violence survivors should be allowed to testify via video in court to avoid facing their abusers.

"It's traumatising to recount an assault with the perpetrator in the same room," she said, adding that courts often reprimand women for refusing to testify rather than ensuring their safety.

Another priority is including NGOs in the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Meeting (MARAM), a system coordinating responses to high-risk domestic violence cases. "NGOs have vital information that victims may not trust government agencies with, and excluding us weakens the system," Compagno said.

The foundation continues to push for systemic change while providing immediate support to women in crisis.

Asked if authorities respond adequately when women report abuse, Compagno said that things can be done better, and "we should always be asking ourselves how we can do this better".

Employers at the workplace must also understand that sometimes, people who are victims of violence get away from situations when they go to work, and there is an opportunity for workplaces to do something and be catalysts in that person's life, Compagno said.

Compagno, who is a qualified trainer and adviser in intimate partner violence and risk, said that companies and businesses should undertake training on how to recognise tell-tale signs at work, know what to look out for, and decisions and actions they could and should take, and that policies can be devised with the help of the foundation.

She added that companies' HR need to be trained to understand what domestic violence looks like, which does not necessarily always mean leaving physical marks.

Compagno said the victim could be spending excessive time on her phone, not browsing on social media, but possibly providing frequent check-ins to a controlling partner.

Fenech Conti and Compagno stated that victims often fear they won't be believed if they speak out or may have normalised such behaviour.