Most Maltese believe domestic violence is widespread

A European survey showed that 30% of the Maltese population knows a person who was the victim of domestic violence in their family or close circle of friends, higher than the EU average of 25%, while 19% know someone who had subjected a woman to domestic violence, this time lower than the EU average of 21%.

4 October 2010, 12:00am
by Rachel Zammit Cutajar

1 min read

In a survey conducted by the Eurobarometer to monitor the evolution of public opinion on domestic violence throughout the EU, it was shown that public awareness has increased from 94% in 1999 to 98% in 2010. The survey included a sample of 500 adult respondents and was conducted in March.

77% of Maltese believe that domestic violence is widespread in the country.

The Maltese believe that sexual and physical abuse constitute the worst offences but psychological abuse and the threat of abuse also featured high on the list. Respondents were in favour of clamping down on psychological abuse with the same force as physical and sexual abuse.

Read more about what Maltese think about domestic violence in Sunday's issue of MaltaToday

Rachel Zammit Cutajar graduated in economics from the University of Malta...