Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1441473
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JANUARY 2022 NEWS have been implemented, these have been sporadic, not long term or consistent. "This further highlights the lack of focusing on prevention, specifically in terms of the pol- icy. The majority of potential preventative measures are gen- erally project-based and not policy-based, which makes them temporary and not sustainable for the long term." While the report acknowl- edged that the focus of the au- thorise since the implementa- tion of the Istanbul Convention has been on awareness-raising campaigns and focusing their efforts on the area of education, it said that while these steps in prevention are essential, they are not enough. COVID-19 and the prevalence of femicide The report noted that a posi- tion paper on the effect of COV- ID-19 was issued in June 2020 by the Consultative Council for Women's Rights, showed wom- en were disproportionately af- fected by the pandemic. More research was also con- ducted by the National Commis- sion for promotion, looking into the distribution of work within the household during the pan- demic. However, the report lambasts that no specific legislation was adopted. "No measures were adopted in relation to femicide. However, measures in rela- tion to domestic violence were adopted," the report said. Recommendations The report recommends that mandatory and continual train- ing should be given to legal prac- titioners, court staff and judges dealing with violence against women, including intimate part- ners. "All professionals, including front line police officers and specialised squads, should be trained in risk assessment and risk management." It also suggests training to me- dia and journalists on sensitive rather than sensational report- ing, limiting reporting to facts and ensuring respect to the vic- tim(s) and her family members in cases of femicide. "There should be continual ed- ucational campaigns for both the public and in schools about red flag situations for bodily harm and potential lethality in cases of domestic violence cases and violence against women," it said. The report added that the cam- paigns should also incorporate awareness of stalking, depriva- tion of liberty, and coercive and controlling behaviour. "Awareness campaigns focus- ing on femicide, and the preva- lence of femicide and its various aspects should also be created." lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt LAURA CALLEJA DONNA Anne Pace grew up in Lon- don to an English mother and Mal- tese father. She describes her up brin- ing as "predominantly Maltese; quite strict and somewhat biased." Pace (pictured below) suffered childhood abuse at the hands of her mother. Then at the age of 24, she moved to Malta and married a Mal- tese man. The abuse Pace suffered at the hands of her husband was both phys- ical and mental. "I found myself in a cycle of abuse since I was a child – and it was difficult for me to break free from it." Pace says that after years of abuse, she decided to leave the marriage in 2014 – the couple already had chil- dren together by this time. "I made the decision a few years ago to separate, and a year later, I filed for a divorce. I could not afford to hire a solicitor, so I taught myself how to complete the necessary documents to submit to the family court," she explains. Pace reflects on this period. An as- pect that is not discussed enough is the fallout of leaving, she says. "I was on an emotional roller-coaster as par- ents, my siblings, some of my extend- ed family members along with some mutual friends backed away from me and decided to ostracise me." That was when she began to write: "In 2017, I decided to put my thoughts and emotions into words and found it very cathartic." "I decided to share my story and be- gan companying to start speaking up publicly through the press and social media in the UK, USA, and Malta, about the horrors of abuse that I have witnessed or endured since child- hood into adulthood. I decided that my new-found confidence and self- worth was going to become the plat- form upon which I would help other survivors of abuse." Pace independently published her first book in 2020 entitled The Re- invention of Me. Then, in that same year, she co-wrote a book with nine other survivors entitled Giving Women A Voice. Donna Anne Pace conceived this global anthology pro- ject in 2018 after breaking her silence and declaring to the world that she is no longer a victim of domestic vio- lence but a survivor. Donna then reached out to women across social media groups, blogs, or- ganisations and to women within her network in order to provide reassur- ance, hope, support and the fantastic offer of giving a female survivor a voice. Apart from Pace, two of the chap- ters were contributed by Maltese women who chose to remain anony- mous out of fear of retribution. The WHO Regional Office for Eu- rope estimates that 5,400 homicides are committed against women aged 15-49 in Europe. Evidence suggests that about 2 out of 5 of these murders are executed by a current or ex-inti- mate partner. Death rates are higher in low- and middle-income countries. The prev- alence of non-fatal violence is much higher, and it is estimated that 1 in 4 women in Europe will experience physical and sexual violence by an in- timate partner at some point in her life. Estimates based on surveys in Europe suggest 49 million women in the region have experienced violence. Domestic abuse survivor pens book to inspire victims to come forward: 'Writing down my emotions was cathartic' Abused as a child and later by her husband, a survivor tells the story of breaking free Real life "Over the span of 10 years, reported cases of domestic violence have increased in number, and it is suggested that part of the reason behind such an increase for Malta was the increase in the population as well as the increase in awareness among the general population, leading to more people reporting."