Malta’s Domestic Violence Commissioner Resigns, Second In A Row For ‘Personal Reasons’
Malta’s domestic violence commissioner Audrey Friggieri has stepped down from her post, citing “personal reasons”.
Friggieri was appointed a few weeks after the brutal murder of Chantelle Chetcuti, who was stabbed to death in 2020 allegedly by her former partner.
While not delving into details, Friggieri said the Commission needs “new energy to continue growing and address contemporary realities”.
A selection process to replace her is currently underway, the Equality Ministry confirmed after news of her resignation on Tuesday.
She is the second domestic violence commissioner to resign in a row, after Simone Cini, who also cited personal reasons for stepping down.
The Nationalist Party expressed their concerns about the news, noting how it happened a few months after a public inquiry into the murder of Bernice Cassar found the state and institutions had failed to protect her.
Nationalist Party Deputies Graziella Attard Previ, Claudette Buttigieg and Joe Giglio demanded that an immediate explanation be given from the minister and responsible parliamentary secretary about what is happening in the institution of the Commission for Domestic Violence.
Domestic violence is a sore issue in Malta.
Official figures show that there were over 1,300 reported cases of domestic violence in 2019. However, just 12 people were found guilty and sent to prison for the crime during the first nine months of the same year.
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