New 1779 helpline launched for revenge porn victims

The government launched a new 1779 helpline for individuals affected by revenge porn.

Revenge porn refers to image-based sexual abuse, including the non-consensual sharing, or threatened sharing, of intimate images.

The service will provide victims of this form of abuse with emotional support, safety-focused guidance and information on the options available to them.

It also aims to ensure that individuals facing such situations do not have to navigate moments of fear or crisis alone.

The 1779 helpline was announced on Tuesday morning by Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon, who stressed the importance of strengthening support for victims of image-based sexual abuse.

“It takes only a few seconds to distribute these images, yet the consequences remain with the victim for a lifetime,” Falzon said. “I therefore urge anyone affected to overcome their fear, come forward, and receive all the necessary support.”

Foundation for Social Welfare Services CEO Alfred Grixti explained that callers will receive a confidential and non-judgemental response, emotional support, safety-focused guidance and information on the options available to them.

Foundation for Social Welfare Services CEO Alfred Grixti (Photo: DOI/FSWS)

The service will also help callers identify practical steps they can take and refer them to other relevant services where necessary.

The conference also addressed some of the factors that deter victims from seeking help, including fear of being blamed or judged, concerns that they will not be believed, and fears that reporting the abuse could lead to the images being disseminated further.