Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525500
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 AUGUST 2024 NEWS Malta's domestic violence plague has people NICOLETTE Ghirxi, 48, became the latest domestic violence victim to die at the hands of her aggressor, an ex-partner. The shocking femicide has once again raised questions on how prepared the coun- try's authorities are in preventing such cases. Following her murder, details emerged in the media on how Ghirxi had reported the aggressor to the police in April of this year. Her lawyer revealed on Thursday how her would-be murderer, Edward William John- ston, had laughed off the police's request for a meeting on a report filed against him by Ghirxi. Addressing a press conference following the murder, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà explained how the Thursday before the murder, Ghirxi told authorities that Johnston could be in Malta after returning from some time abroad. Many NGOs and the Opposition have called out the police for their failure to act on the warnings, saying domestic violence was not being treated seriously. MaltaToday spoke to leading women's rights activist and lawyer Lara Dimitrijevic and the Police Commissioner to understand better what is working and what isn't in the country's bid to stamp out domestic vio- lence. Law and enforcement: A totally different ballgame Lara Dimitrijevic, a frontline activist against gender discrimination, said the country has made big strides froward when it comes to legislation, but said access to protection is not so readily available. "I try to distinguish between law and en- forcement. We have improved the law on paper, but when it comes to protection, it is not accessible," she said. The lawyer said that for victims of domes- tic violence to be protected from their abus- er, they must pass through a legal process, and only then can they achieve legal protec- tion. "Victims have to pass through the legal process, have police investigate the case and charge the aggressor, and it is only then that the request for a restraining or protection order is made," she said. "Victims have to al- ways depend on the authorities for this kind of protection, and this cannot continue." On the other hand, the Police Commis- sioner defended the force's approach, saying that following the inquiry into the circum- stances that led to Bernice Cassar's murder, several reforms have been enacted. Walking us through the Santa Luċija do- mestic violence hub, he said the police deals with these cases through a multi-stakehold- er approach. "I understand the criticism and accept it, but this is a multi-stakeholder approach. We are at the Santa Luċija domestic vio- lence hub, and you do not only find police officers here, but you also have Aġenzija Apogg risk-assessors," Gafà said. "These are concepts which the police have adopted from best practices internationally. But de- spite all these best practices, I unfortunate- ly have never come across a country which had no domestic violence cases." He stated victims who come forward are assessed and listened to in a welcoming and more serene environment, and the force has continued to invest resources into the unit. "This department started off with 20 of- ficers, which has now increased to 60. This is one of the biggest units, reflecting how we have prioritised this issue. We are also train- ing and increasing awareness among our police officers as when the victim chooses to lodge a report at a police station, officers must be prepared and equipped to handle the case." He said two types of assessments are car- ried out: a preliminary risk assessment by the police, and a risk assessment carried out by state agency Appoġġ. The police adapt its approach according to those risk assess- ments. It has emerged that Ghirxi had refused to undergo the detailed risk assessment pro- cedure despite being approached by social workers from Appoġġ. The Foundation for Social Welfare Services, responsible for Ap- poġġ, said in the wake of the murder that its clients still have the right to self-determina- tion and in some instances refuse to under- go the risk assessment. But Dimitrijevic still feels the responsibility is being shouldered by victims of domestic violence. "The system right now puts the responsibility on the victims, on whether Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà addressing a crime conference after the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi Nicolette Ghirxi was murdered at her Birkirkara apartment