Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1060184
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 DECEMBER 2018 INTERVIEW There has been some criticism directed at your appointment as Domestic Violence Commissioner: some media have questioned your credentials, and others have suggested the appointment was a case of political nepotism. Was this something you expected? How do you respond to this sort of criticism? First of all, I feel that questions about my appointment should really be asked to those who ap- pointed me. But I do feel some- times – while I'm working, or trying to work – that sections of the media are being a little unfair towards me. I've said this before, but… this is no iced bun. I'm not doing this for the money: the remuneration is on- ly 2,300 euro a year. I've heard that it might be set to go up to 4,000 by the end of 2019: but if so, I can assure you the decision had nothing to do with me. I'm doing this out of my own free time, because it's something I feel passionate about. I have an interest in anything that touch- es on social concerns; for the past 20 years, I've been dealing with such issues on my televi- sion programmes. I've built up contacts with experts and so- cial workers in the field; most of them have been my guests. I imagine that's why I was ap- proached for this position in the first place. Bear in mind that the role of commissioner is not to directly administer the social or legal aspects of the is- sue. It's to co-ordinate between the various experts and pro- fessionals on the board. It's an organisational role: and that is something I do have experi- ence in, even if it's not directly related to domestic or gender- based violence. But you could also turn the question around: should I not have been chosen, because of who I am? Well, the argument is more along the lines that other potential candidates, who may have been better qualified, may have been by- passed… [Shrugs] I don't know about anyone being 'by-passed'; but it's possible that others were approached, but didn't accept. After all, the remuneration is not very attractive. [Pause] This is also why I feel I am being un- fairly judged: especially in an environment where we're see- ing so much money going out to so many people. Every day, we see journalists uncovering how much public officials are being paid. 'Persons of trust' appointed everywhere, some- times on six-month contracts as consultants… and none of this money properly accounted for. Perhaps this is why there was so much criticism direct- ed towards me… perhaps they think I'm one of those. But it's not just about money. The question some people are asking is: Why you? What do you bring to this role – which is, let's face it, a sensitive social issue – that others don't? Let me put it this way: some people could have a lot of pro- fessional experience, and be very knowledgeable on the sub- ject. But they're bad managers, bad co-ordinators, have bad organisational or communica- tion skills… and they fail. Even if they are very good at work- ing in the field. I am not going to 'work in the field'. It is not in the commission's remit. What we do is policy-based. I am not a social worker; but I work hand in hand with social workers. I turn to the experts; I listen… Looking at your appointment from the opposite perspective: There also seems to be a widespread culture of instantly attacking anyone who accepts a public post in this country. Would you agree? Yes, I do agree with that… And though it may be a generalisation, would you also agree that the attacks seem to intensify when the target is a woman… especially a woman in politics? Yes. Unfortunately, some women don't support other women. If you look at the peo- ple who have criticised me the most, you will probably find that they are mostly women. It is ironic; and it hurts, because after all, I did my fair share try- ing to challenge this mentality, in my own way. When I first entered 'public life', I was in my 20s. A lot of my work in televi- sion was dedicated to challeng- ing gender biases. And I con- tested an election, too. I wasn't successful, and – at the time – it may have had something to do with the same culture. I'm not saying women should vote for other women just because they're women… I have never believed that… but what I can say, from my own experience, is that things are tougher for women, no doubt about it. This brings us to the reasons for the existence of the Domestic and Gender-based Violence Commission. On paper, Malta seems to have a very serious, recurring problem with domestic violence; which also means that while we have progressed by leaps and bounds in other areas, there has been no corresponding improvement in such a sensitive area. Why do you think we have remained so regressive in this one area? If you ask me, it's a question of changing a national, cultural mentality. This is a cultural challenge, first and foremost. It is not something that can be achieved just by enacting a law. But I don't think it's fair to say that there has been no improvement; there has been change, and a lot of that change has been accepted. But there is still a small minority that re- sists change. And up to a point, our social structures have also held us back. Today, we have women in their 70s who, ever since they got married at 23 or 24, have lived a life of abuse. Culturally, we have always been taught to tolerate this; as by- standers, we were brought up to never get involved in such cases. There was, and still is, a certain 'omerta', too. We have to change all this. What is being done about it as we speak? Your role as Commissioner, for instance: what does the job entail, on a practical day-to-day basis? Today, we have a new law which transposes the Istan- bul Convention into Maltese legislation; so now, we have the necessary tools. But just because we have the tools, it doesn't mean we know how to use them. The Commission is there partly to assist in setting up the necessary structures. At the moment, we are offering a series of training programmes for professionals. Yesterday, we had a session for doctors; and the day before, for lawyers. For that meeting in particular, we were overwhelmed by the attendance. A lot of lawyers came to us for training, includ- ing some well-known names in the field. This is something we have been stressing from the beginning: nobody is so quali- fied or experienced that they don't need additional training. It was rewarding to see that the sentiment is shared by profes- sionals… You mentioned the Istanbul Convention, which has been transposed into Maltese law. There is also the implementation aspect, however. What remains to be done before we can say it has been fully implemented? The Convention is based on On taking up the role of Domestic Violence Commissioner, television journalist SIMONE CINI has had to contend with criticism and reminders of her 'political past'. How much of her appointment was down to political nepotism… and how much to her self-avowed passion for social causes? Raphael Vassallo Raphael Vassallo rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt A passionate, political