Strategic objective 2: Prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence

Strategic objective 2: Prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence Marceline Naudi

I was asked to… Present a critical approach on the situation in Malta in relation to this strategic objective, including: • whether the aims of the objective are reached, • highlighting any outstanding challenges • and what needs to be done to address them.

Starting point – aims of the objective Prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence! It plans to do this in various ways such as supporting member States to implement relevant international instruments as well as to prepare for adopting them, to develop tools, to gather information, build knowledge and promote the Istanbul, Lanzerote and Trafficking Conventions.

in line with the Istanbul Convention, take action to • address sexual violence and harassment of women in public space; • address the ability of victims of domestic violence to seek shelter and housing as a protection measure; • support the development of data collection on violence against women and domestic violence; • support the setting up and development of co-ordinating bodies at the national level, and promote and support the development of national strategies to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence; • address violence against elderly women and men; • develop tools to address the need to prevent and combat domestic violence against men and boys; • address the role of men as perpetrators of gender-based violence and develop information tools on the role of men in preventing violence against women and girls;

address sexual violence and harassment of women in public space • women liking sexual harassment, because this is how they receive confirmation that they are attractive • being followed by boys would be okay, if the girl is single, because then she would want the attention • being slapped on the bum is okay, this is the way boys communicate that they want to make-up with a girl after a fight • sexual harassment happens to ‘pretty girls’ • the girls are aware that it can happen anywhere • girls aware of the fact that sexual harassment is about power, they also use some excusing language such as calling harassers childish or having health issues, or thinking that ‘he’ must be lonely • boys aware that girls experience sexual harassment not only in the schools, but especially in places where they go out in the evenings or weekend, in clubs and bars • The boys discussed women dressing in certain ways to provoke getting attention. They also discussed about girls getting drunk in clubs so that they can later have an excuse to not take responsibility for their actions, or that being drunk and dressed provocatively was a way for girls to get attention

address the ability of victims of domestic violence to seek shelter and housing as a protection measure We have good shelters but… what happens when they are ready to move on with their lives…? Finding places for survivors of domestic violence to move on to is becoming more and more difficult resulting in women blocking shelter places because they have nowhere else to go. With few to no options, many survivors are compelled to remain in, or return to, abusive relationships. We need safe, affordable, and stable housing.

support the development of data collection on violence against women and domestic violence; Data collection is a problem in many countries. Various efforts have been made to enable this here. We need to be able to collect data on the different forms of violence against women. Definitions and methods need to be harmonised across entities. Important data categories (such as sex and relationship of perpetrator to the victim) need to be collected. For example, in the criminal justice system we need to be able to trace a domestic violence case as it moves through the system, i.e. from the reporting stage to investigation, prosecution and the judiciary. In the social services sector, we need to trace through use of the various services.

support the setting up and development of co-ordinating bodies at the national level, and promote and support the development of national strategies to prevent and combat VAW and DV In theory we have this. A co-ordinating body and a national strategy. And we know, things cannot happen overnight… But the tragedy is that we do need things to happen NOW – not next year, or next decade – we need action. Women have been waiting and crying and dying long enough. Let us see things implemented, and let us see the results on the ground.

address violence against elderly women and men • Elderly abuse can happen in their own homes, in residential establishments, in the community… But violence against elderly persons occurs mostly at home • The majority of elder abuse victims are female, whereas the majority of the perpetrators are male. Older women are more likely to experience abuse and neglect by their spouse or adult children, whereas older men tend to be abused by adult children or friends • The effects of past, poor and ‘fractured’ relationships between older males and their family members are seen as potential driving forces towards episodes of mistreatment, with the consequence of increased risk for abandonment and neglect of elderly men.

develop tools to address the need to prevent and combat domestic violence against men and boys; The dynamics of violence against men and boys are most often very different to those of violence against women and girls… Women and men perform violence for different reasons and with different consequences. Women and men experience violence differently. It’s not just an add-on…

address the role of men as perpetrators of GBV and develop information tools on the role of men in preventing VAWG We have perpetrator services – but this requires more than that… This requires tackling the traditional gender role stereotypes… This is a BIG job… And it needs to be a continuous one, not just an awareness campaign here and there… We also have an NGO ‘Men Against Violence’ that are working on the role of men in preventing VAWG – they have done some very good work with very little resources – they could do with some support…

Where are we now? Research which was carried out in 2003/4, research which was carried out in 2015, research which was carried out in 2017, had too many findings in common… We have progressed – we have new NGO services, we have had various training courses for professionals, we have a couple of awareness raising campaigns, shelters have improved their facilities, we have had 2 laws since 2004, we have an official national strategy and action plan – all these things are good. But still the women raise the same issues, the same problems, the same complaints… Still women die… The changes we hoped for have not come about…

Strategic objective 2: Prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence