At least three domestic violence reports are submitted to police every single day in Malta.

In 2022, around 1,092 reports were submitted. While the rising number of reports might indicate that people feel more empowered to speak out, this figure echoes the desolation victims of domestic abuse face, with many remaining silent or falling through the system.

It comes as no surprise when 96% of domestic violence court cases in Malta fail to result in a conviction, with the vast majority of proceedings “exhausted”.

In 2020, a specialised domestic violence unit was opened to crack down on and streamline DV cases in Malta and receives about five reports a day.

However…

2. Malta’s “feminist” government allocated almost the same amount of money to the Space program

Priorities. With this amount of domestic violence cases filed, the unit is not given enough resources to follow through with every case.

Bernice Cassar, one of the latest victims of femicide, had filed several reports to the police about domestic violence.

The authorities’ lack of action left her shot dead.

 Chantelle Chetcuti, three years before, died with a knife in her head, while her killer lives on, even going on holiday to watch a football match.

3. A total of 46 women were murdered in 22 years

Strangle, beaten, drowned, burnt, thrown of cliffs. There have been 46 women who were murdered in the last 22 years. At least 29 of them have been classified as femicides.

The most recent victim following Bernice Cassar was a Turkish architect Pelin Kaya, who was murdered in a car crash after a driver under the influence took aim and killed her near a KFC in Gzira.

4. Nearly half of Maltese people don’t believe women

So why don’t more of us speak out against violence or daily injustices? Maybe it’s because women aren’t believed when they do.

In fact, nearly half (47%) of respondents to an EU-wide study found that Maltese people think that women often exaggerate or makeup claims of abuse or rape, compared to the EU average of 21%.

5. Women in Malta are highly educated but underpaid

The average educational level of female employees across nearly EU countries is higher than men, yet EU women are on paid on average 13% less than men per hour, summing up to one month and a half less yearly pay.

In Malta figures are just slightly better. For every €100 a Maltese man earns, Maltese women earn €90.

There are many reasons why men seem to occupy higher positions than women in the workforce, and one is…

6. Women in Malta still do most of the domestic labour at home

The overwhelming majority 92% of women in the EU provide unpaid care several days a week – as opposed to 68% of men. Employed women spend 90 minutes more per day than employed men on unpaid care. Women make up 37 million of the 49 million care workers in the EU.

7. Malta’s sexual health policy still sucks

Lack of access to contraception, a total ban on abortion and sex ed that is bone dry, Lovin Malta has been harping on about Malta’s deplorable sexual health policy, which hasn’t been updated in 10 years, since 2020. Promises have been made, but we’re still where we were in pandemic times and women are suffering the brunt of it.

Malta, do better. Let’s celebrate our women with real, tangible, institutional change.

Share this to support women!