The programme of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Domestic Violence continued with the signing of a three-year agreement between the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, the Local Government Division, and the Bank of Valletta, a government statement said.
Through this agreement, the three entities will work together to deliver financial education within the community, with a focus on avoiding situations that lead to financial control and dependency, one of the forms of domestic violence.
The agreement was signed by the Commissioner for Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Samantha Pace Gasan, the Director General of the Local Government Division Emil Vassallo, and Simon Azzopardi on behalf of the Bank of Valletta.
Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg said that this financial education campaign aims to help reduce economic dependency, which often becomes the root cause of psychological violence and a form of control in abusive relationships.
She said that this agreement forms another part of the government's domestic violence strategy, and she thanked the Bank of Valletta for its support in this campaign.
Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli said that Local Councils are the authorities closest to citizens, and that through this agreement between the Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Commission and the Bank of Valletta, a number of Local Councils will host training by professionals on financial literacy and financial independence.
Zerafa Civelli said that this commitment strengthens communities and confirms that prevention begins at the local level.
The Bank of Valletta's Chief Personal and Wealth Officer Simon Azzopardi said that the Bank will support, through its resources, free educational sessions for the public to strengthen financial awareness, as it believes that this is a form of protection and prevention against financial dependency.
He said that this training, which will take place in the coming months in collaboration with local councils, aims to give individuals confidence and independence to break the cycle of financial control if they are subjected to it.