Planned revision to Domestic Violence Act to widen 'domestic violence' definition

The remit of the planned Gender-based and Domestic Violence Act is to encompass a wider definiton of domestic violence than its predecessor, government says.

This emerged as the appointment of Joseph Gerada as the new Chairperson of the Commission for Domestic Violence was announced by the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties. Gerada has occupied a number of top posts, including that of chairperson of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services. For the past 8 years Gerada has represented the government in a number of commitees at European level.

Gerada's appointment comes at a time when government is working to implement UN guidelines on encouraging the role of men and boys as agents for change vis a vis gender inequality.

The ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties is currently revising the Domestic Violence Act, which is now to be known as the Gender-based and Domestic Violence Act. An committee made up of representatives of the Ministry for Health, the Ministry for Social Dialogue, the Ministry for Home Affairs and the Attorney General have conducted discussions on the new Act, which is yet to be tabled in Parliament.

The new Gender-based and Domestic Violence Act is aimed at implementing the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in the Maltese context.

It will widen the definition of domestic violence to encompass physical, sexual, psychological and economic situations that occur in a family context or between married couples, divorcees, unmarried partners and ex-partners.

The Act will give the Commission new powers to request and collate statistics from the Police and Courts, as well as to develop an effective treatment programme for those found guilty of domestic violence-related crimes, in order to reduce re-offending.