Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1313317
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 NOVEMBER 2020 10 NEWS LAUR A CALLEJA A report by Council of Europe experts lambast- ing Malta's judiciary and police for their insen- sitivity on domestic violence, is "only a shadow" of what professionals and NGOs have witnessed for years, the women's rights activist and lawyer Lara Dimitrijevic has said. Dimitrijevic told this paper that she and other activists have been echoing identical recommen- dations to the report drawn up by the Council of Europe's experts from GREVIO, since the first report was issued back in 2016. The GREVIO report noted that Malta's judges appear to have an "inadequate understanding of the change in paradigm in proving rape, of the role and importance of emergency barring or- ders and protection orders in breaking the cycle of violence". Dimitrijevic said it would be unjust to put the whole judicial system in the same basket. "The report dealt with various aspect of the legal sys- tem from criminal to civil. The role of the judi- ciary is imperative; it is not just the symbol of justice, but it ensures effective protection and accountability," she said. But Dimitrijevic said the legal system had to do its part to prevent violence against women, and other domestic violence victims, lawyers not least. The report said that police officers who rou- tinely receive reports or respond to call-outs were not trained on the dynamics of domestic violence, nor on the gendered aspect of such vi- olence, its risk factors and the need to ensure victim protection. Dimitrijevic said that since GREVIO's visit to Malta, the police force had made strides with the launch of a specialised domestic unit. "This unit has brought the much-needed change, not only because they are trained, but because it is sen- sitised to deal with victims and their children." The GREVIO report also raised concern over the systematic granting of bail, which they said was coupled with a lack of monitoring and en- forcement of protection orders by the state. This, they said, sent a strong signal that domes- tic violence was tolerated. Dimitrijevic agreed, stating that mechanisms needed to be put into place to ensure effec- tive enforcement when bail conditions were breached. "Another issue is the lengthy proceed- ings of our court. Whilst summarily, cases are generally heard with practicality, a compilation of evidence can take months, if not years to be concluded until the final judgment is reached." Conviction rates in Malta remain low: only a small number of domestic violence cases are prosecuted. Out of the 480 cases prosecuted Maltese women re-victimised by system that does not hear their voice GREVIO report on domestic violence victims in Malta comes as no surprise to activists who have witnessed justice system up close Lawyer and women's rights activist Lara Dimitrejivic "The general attitude towards violence against women and domestic violence is all too often viewed as not being a grave offence" Fitness centre 'throws shade' on Cumbo tower buffer JAMES DEBONO A fitness and rehabilitation centre for contact sports in- juries is being proposed over 1,420sq.m of land outside development zones along Triq Durumblat, in Attard. The land lies within the buffer zone for the protec- tion of the setting of Torri Cumbo, a heritage monu- ment scheduled at Grade 2 by the Planning Authority. The tower's gardens are lo- cated just across the street. The development, pro- posed by landowner Philip Camilleri, is located be- tween the road and the go-karting track in Ta' Qa- li, and will consist of two one-storey blocks for a re- habilitation centre for box- ing and contact sports, and another one for a gym and fitness studios. An aquatic treatment pool is being pro- posed in an outdoor activity area, while a landscaped ar- ea with a number of trees is being proposed around the new buildings. This Superintendence for Cultural Heritage is ob- jecting in principle to the development for its "unac- ceptable and unjustified im- pact on the cultural heritage and natural landscape". The site is also deemed to have a degree of archaeological potential and any approved development will require ar- chaeological monitoring. Extensive grounds sur- round the Torri Cumbo, located on the other side Triq Durumblat opposite the proposed gym. The 16th century property was owned by Julius Cumbo, a well-known criminal lawyer in late mediaeval times and also a jurat on the Università of Mdina. The site is reput- ed to have been the location from where the fabled 'Mo- sta bride' was abducted in 1526. A cluster of small cata- combs accessed by a flight of steps preceded by an an- ti-chamber and three burial chambers were found in the gardens of the Torri Cumbo. Since the development is being proposed in the vicin- ity of the Grade 2 accord- ing to new rules introduced in May the developers will have to assess the impact of the development on the context of historical tower and present relevant photo- montages. The Agricultural Advisory Committee, which advises the PA on projects located on agricultural land, is ob- jecting in principle to any development in the area, in line to its objection to any development in the ODZ, which is not related to or not for the benefit of agri- culture. Torri Cumbo is located on the other side Triq Durumblat opposite the proposed gym. The 16th century property was owned by Julius Cumbo, a well-known criminal lawyer in late mediaeval times and also a jurat on the Università of Mdina. The site is reputed to have been the location from where the fabled 'Mosta bride' was abducted in 1526