Posted 2/12/11
This video was taken by NET NEWS on Monday 28/11/11. The MCWO held a press conference to make public the recommendations made to the government of Malta to improve legislation in regard of domestic violence. The 25th of November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Posted 10/6/11
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/womens-organisation-say-police-slow-to-respond-to-domestic-violence-incidents
Malta Confederation of Womens' Organisations says police has been too slow in dealing with reports of domestic abuse and other violence committed against women.
The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has called for urgent action on domestic violence and sexual harassment falling under the radar.
The MCWO said that over two consecutive weekends, three incidents of violence against women, one of which was fatal, had taken place apart.
The first of the three incidents took place in Paceville where a man in his 20s was reported to the police by Briton Rachel Ginty for violence against his girlfriend, herself and her two foreign male friends who came to her defence. It was claimed that the police justified their action to let the man go on the basis of lack of witnesses, even though Ginty was willing to file a report. "This was followed by a police statement giving a different version of events and indicating that four persons will be arraigned in the near future," MCWO spokesperson Kate Bonello Sullivan said.
Another case involved a French woman who twice called the police for help on the emergency helpline 112 to report a case of domestic abuse on her neighbour. "However she was reported saying that no police ever arrived... No police statement has been issued to date," Bonello Sullivan said.
"Maltese women cannot afford to wait until murder is done as in the case the third incident that proved fatal for Bulgarian Irena Bilyanova Abadzhieva, 38, found dead with 40 stab wounds in her apartment in Qawra after the neighbours complained of a foul smell emanating from her flat."
The MCWO said action should be taken promptly and that no report can be taken lightly. "It is the duty of the police to investigate and take the necessary immediate action. Incidents like these can undermine the police force and the sooner they are clarified the better for all concerned, be it the victims, the public in general and the Force themselves. All efforts should ne made to ensure that women in our society feel safe both in the public and private sphere."
The MCWO called on the Commissioner of Police to investigate these incidents "if for no other reason but to uphold the good reputation of those police officers who do their best to help and assist citizens in times of crisis."
"If these incidents prove to be correct, all efforts should be made to address any lacunas in the system that is leaving women at the mercy of violent men be it in the street or in the home. Violence against women needs to be given utmost importance and priority," Bonello Sullivan said.
University lecturer Carmen Sammut also writes in her MaltaToday blogthat the Bulgarian murder failed to make any national impact, while the death of teh dog Star - found buried alive - had gone viral.
She added that the increased penalties for animal cruelty also revived memories of the recent story of 9 March 2011, when the court penalized a man €175 after he was caught on camera bashing his girlfriend in the streets of Sliema. “He received this insignificant fine when the whole world may watch and hear what happened on YouTube,” Sammut writes, describing the fine as “a pittance in comparison to the fines aimed to deter animal cruelty.”
POSTED 8/6/11
Press Statement
The children’s rights NGO “Celebrities for Kids” is launching the second in a series of educational short videos as part of its campaign on Child Safety and Injury Prevention. Celebrities for Kids (CfK) was set up earlier this year with the aim of increasing awareness on issues related to children’s rights. Its first campaign on Injury Prevention is intended to decrease the incidence of accidental injuries sustained by our children. Accidental injuries are the greatest single cause of hospital admissions of children in Malta. It is estimated that up to one third of these injuries are preventable. As part of this campaign CfK has prepared a number of short video clips with educational messages for parents and carers with tips on how specific injuries can be avoided. Well known celebrities have kindly volunteered to participate in these videos to bring the message across more forcibly.
In this second video clip (which is being distributed as a public service announcement) actress Louise Doneo advises parents on how to buckle up their children in the car. Each year around 80 children need hospital care in Malta due to motor vehicle accidents. A number of these accidents can be avoided if simple recommendations are followed. CfK recommends;
1. Babies should be properly strapped to an age-appropriate car seat. Car seats must be firmly attached to the rear seat and should be rear facing. Babies need to be supervised at all times by an adult back-seat passenger.
2. Children between 3 and 8 years should be seated in the back seat on an attached booster seat. This allows proper wear of the back-seat seatbelt.
3. Older children till age 13 should be seated at the back and strapped in the back-seat seatbelt.
CfK would be grateful if you could give this press release/video clip as much publicity as you can to help our efforts in decreasing childhood injuries.
Chris Fearne
Chairperson – Celebrities for Kids
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/womens-organisation-say-police-slow-to-respond-to-domestic-violence-incidents
Malta Confederation of Womens' Organisations says police has been too slow in dealing with reports of domestic abuse and other violence committed against women.
The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has called for urgent action on domestic violence and sexual harassment falling under the radar.
The MCWO said that over two consecutive weekends, three incidents of violence against women, one of which was fatal, had taken place apart.
The first of the three incidents took place in Paceville where a man in his 20s was reported to the police by Briton Rachel Ginty for violence against his girlfriend, herself and her two foreign male friends who came to her defence. It was claimed that the police justified their action to let the man go on the basis of lack of witnesses, even though Ginty was willing to file a report. "This was followed by a police statement giving a different version of events and indicating that four persons will be arraigned in the near future," MCWO spokesperson Kate Bonello Sullivan said.
Another case involved a French woman who twice called the police for help on the emergency helpline 112 to report a case of domestic abuse on her neighbour. "However she was reported saying that no police ever arrived... No police statement has been issued to date," Bonello Sullivan said.
"Maltese women cannot afford to wait until murder is done as in the case the third incident that proved fatal for Bulgarian Irena Bilyanova Abadzhieva, 38, found dead with 40 stab wounds in her apartment in Qawra after the neighbours complained of a foul smell emanating from her flat."
The MCWO said action should be taken promptly and that no report can be taken lightly. "It is the duty of the police to investigate and take the necessary immediate action. Incidents like these can undermine the police force and the sooner they are clarified the better for all concerned, be it the victims, the public in general and the Force themselves. All efforts should ne made to ensure that women in our society feel safe both in the public and private sphere."
The MCWO called on the Commissioner of Police to investigate these incidents "if for no other reason but to uphold the good reputation of those police officers who do their best to help and assist citizens in times of crisis."
"If these incidents prove to be correct, all efforts should be made to address any lacunas in the system that is leaving women at the mercy of violent men be it in the street or in the home. Violence against women needs to be given utmost importance and priority," Bonello Sullivan said.
University lecturer Carmen Sammut also writes in her MaltaToday blogthat the Bulgarian murder failed to make any national impact, while the death of teh dog Star - found buried alive - had gone viral.
She added that the increased penalties for animal cruelty also revived memories of the recent story of 9 March 2011, when the court penalized a man €175 after he was caught on camera bashing his girlfriend in the streets of Sliema. “He received this insignificant fine when the whole world may watch and hear what happened on YouTube,” Sammut writes, describing the fine as “a pittance in comparison to the fines aimed to deter animal cruelty.”
POSTED 8/6/11
Press Statement
The children’s rights NGO “Celebrities for Kids” is launching the second in a series of educational short videos as part of its campaign on Child Safety and Injury Prevention. Celebrities for Kids (CfK) was set up earlier this year with the aim of increasing awareness on issues related to children’s rights. Its first campaign on Injury Prevention is intended to decrease the incidence of accidental injuries sustained by our children. Accidental injuries are the greatest single cause of hospital admissions of children in Malta. It is estimated that up to one third of these injuries are preventable. As part of this campaign CfK has prepared a number of short video clips with educational messages for parents and carers with tips on how specific injuries can be avoided. Well known celebrities have kindly volunteered to participate in these videos to bring the message across more forcibly.
In this second video clip (which is being distributed as a public service announcement) actress Louise Doneo advises parents on how to buckle up their children in the car. Each year around 80 children need hospital care in Malta due to motor vehicle accidents. A number of these accidents can be avoided if simple recommendations are followed. CfK recommends;
1. Babies should be properly strapped to an age-appropriate car seat. Car seats must be firmly attached to the rear seat and should be rear facing. Babies need to be supervised at all times by an adult back-seat passenger.
2. Children between 3 and 8 years should be seated in the back seat on an attached booster seat. This allows proper wear of the back-seat seatbelt.
3. Older children till age 13 should be seated at the back and strapped in the back-seat seatbelt.
CfK would be grateful if you could give this press release/video clip as much publicity as you can to help our efforts in decreasing childhood injuries.
Chris Fearne
Chairperson – Celebrities for Kids
