Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541608
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS 'We have a dream: A future without violence' - 16 Days Against Violence campaign launched THE 16 Days Against Vio- lence annual campaign, with the theme 'We have a dream: a future without violence', was launched on Tuesday by Par- liamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg together with Minister Michael Falzon and Lydia Abela. During the campaign launch, band 'The Travellers' debuted their new song 'Sbejħa', which was written for the occasion. The song features messages highlighting the hardships of domestic violence, calling for victims' required support and aggressors' rehabilitation. "Through this creative way, this year's campaign, which is a part of the 'Nazzjonijiet Magħquda' initiative, reassures that the message against domes- tic violence reaches a wider au- dience", Buttigieg said. The parliamentary secretary added the commitment against domestic violence does not begin or end with this cam- paign, but the work continues throughout the year. She also highlighted almost 30% of the third national strategy against gender-based and domestic vi- olence has already been imple- mented. As part of the program of ac- tivities, in various localities, sev- eral benches were installed with symbols and messages against domestic violence. Buttigieg ex- plained that the bench signifies the resting place where a person stops to listen and share their thoughts. Abela expressed "we need to be a society that understands, recognises the signs and shows solidarity, not judgement", and added "A future without vio- lence is built through education, prevention, accessible services, and a society that does not judge victims but follows them with support, respect and dignity." She also mentioned through recognized legal concepts such as femicide and the investment being made in hubs focusing on domestic violence, Malta has made significant steps towards this campaign. "It is therefore our duty as a Government to continue to as- sist while creating more aware- ness so that those who experi- ence domestic violence can seek help and find the support they need", with psychological sup- port and shelters being made available by government social agreements and by the Founda- tion for Social Welfare Services (FSWS)," Minister Falzon add- ed. "'We have a dream – a future without violence', is not simply a wish or aspiration but a call to action and collective responsi- bility", Abela concluded. Parliamentary Secretary for equality and refoms Rebecca Buttigieg at the 16 days against violence campaign launch JADE BEZZINA jbezzina@mediatoday.com.mt PN urges 'concrete action' to protect victims as 16 days of activism against gender-based violence begin THE Nationalist Party has called for stronger measures to combat domestic and gender-based vio- lence, insisting that fine words alone will not solve this prob- lem, as Malta marks the Inter- national Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In a statement signed by equality spokesperson Graziella Attard Previ and Marie Claire Zammit, president of the PN's women's movement (MNPN), the party said violence against women remains widespread de- spite social and economic pro- gress. The PN pointed to recent Na- tional Statistics Office figures showing that 3,798 people re- ported domestic violence or sought related services in 2024, with women accounting for 76% of those affected. Domestic vio- lence, it said, continues to leave a "devastating impact" on vic- tims, their children and society. The party argued that en- trenched paternalistic attitudes and slow institutional responses have left many women facing daily risk, insisting that victims "cannot and should not have to wait any longer" for effective protection. As the 16-day global campaign against gender-based violence begins, the PN said it will listen to victims and support organisa- tions directly, meet profession- als to identify challenges and strengthen policy proposals, and promote measures focused on prevention, protection and rehabilitation. The party reiterated a set of key reforms it wants im- plemented, including: educa- tion-based prevention, with curriculum changes on healthy relationships, equality, conflict resolution and emotional man- agement; a centralised system to monitor protection orders for faster coordination and im- proved safety; greater court ca- pacity and additional staff to ad- dress lengthy delays in domestic violence cases; and immediate emergency barring orders, al- lowing police to remove alleged aggressors from the home with- out waiting for a court sitting, in line with the Istanbul Conven- tion. The PN said every victim has the right to a safe and dignified life and urged the state to fulfil its duty to protect those at risk. NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt