Panic alarms have been issued to 20 high-risk domestic violence victims since the initiative was launched by the Victim Support Agency a month ago, an article published by The Malta Independent on Sunday showed.

The introduction of these alarms is an important step in better protecting domestic violence victims from abuse.

The alarms are designed for use in situations where calling the police would be unsafe or impossible, and once activated, the device transmits the victim's GPS location to the Malta Police Force, which is then meant to prompt an immediate and coordinated response involving trained risk assessors from Aġenzija Appoġġ and the VSA's own dedicated personnel. The system can also flag a potential alert if the device is switched off unexpectedly or remains inactive for a prolonged period. This means that if an aggressor finds and takes away the panic button, the authorities would still be, in a sense, alerted.

Domestic violence is a scourge that must be stopped. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home, and a quick and serious response to domestic violence reports is a must in order to protect victims. Too many people in Malta have fallen victim to abuse over the years, and a number have lost their lives. Each life lost is a tragedy.

The panic alarm is part of Malta's Third National Strategy and Action Plan Against Domestic Violence, which runs until 2028. It is intended to strengthen immediate protection for those most at risk, complementing other existing services.

The opening of Malta's first Domestic Violence Hub in February 2024, a walk-in centre providing immediate support from a team of professionals, was another good initiative.

These were good steps forward in combatting domestic violence, but more needs to be done to strengthen the protection of those who are suffering from abuse. More training for the police for instance, and working to ensure domestic violence court cases conclude more quickly, these are issues that require constant improvement.

Minister for Home Affairs Byron Camilleri had said that throughout the year 2024, the police received 2,225 reports of domestic violence. This equates to around six reports everyday and marks a 7% increase to 2023. It is a high number.

This number shows that there are many cases of domestic violence happening in the country, an issue which needs to be tackled. It also shows that people are not as afraid to speak up as in the past, which is important.

But the dark figure of crime must also be kept in mind. There are others who would fear speaking up, perhaps because they are still too emotionally attached to the abuser, or perhaps because they don’t believe they will get the protection they need. The authorities must continue to push forward with campaigns highlighting the importance of coming forward and speaking up, and highlighting the support phone numbers and services that are available.

Domestic violence does not only have consequences on the person on the receiving end of the abuse. If a child sees a parent hitting another for example, it could have a psychological impact on the child later down the line. Believing that a person can change can be detrimental to the health and safety of not only the person being abused, but of other family members.

Seeking help from the authorities is the first step that has to be taken.