Malta urgently needs more domestic violence action, sport lends support

In Malta, where violence against women is still prevalent, more action is needed to change the reality - football stakeholders are playing a part in trying to achieve significant change.

The Malta Football Association (MFA) and Malta Women’s Lobby (MWL) have joined hands and experiences to make a change in society in the context of the GOALSCORE project.

Speaking with Euractiv, MFA representatives said that while this is not the first such initiative the association has been involved in, GOALSCORE has helped spread awareness campaigns with more clubs.

“We will be taking domestic violence awareness campaigns to other teams, youth teams in particular, playing in the amateur leagues. There are 23 such clubs, and our objective is to reach out to them throughout this season (2024-2025).”

Addressing misperceptions

“We tend to think of domestic violence as someone hitting someone, whereas there are other forms. Nowadays, there is online domestic violence, mental pressure and teasing, exertion of different sorts,” MFA representatives told Euractiv.

“We need to explain this to clubs and our potential recipients so that they can do something about it. The most important aspect of projects like this is not just raising awareness, but what you should do, how you can report, and how we can help.”

Since football enjoys a lot of support and attention, the MFA is keen on assuring people there is a safe place where they can come and talk about domestic violence, “even in the most unlikely of places”, a football association.

“Football congregates people naturally. It attracts people from all social standings, whether they are rich or poor, speak different languages, come from different cultures… They all meet on the field and in the dressing rooms.”

Local engagement

While the complete eradication of domestic violence can be utopic, the MFA regularly meets with local stakeholders to push forward with campaigns of awareness.

The MFA said this is now their target to make sure people notice that domestic violence is something to be taken seriously, saying: “Very often, the victim is not convinced or does not exactly know what to do. Perhaps we can help them through this project.”

The association has included the tackling of social issues such as domestic violence, early school leavers, disability, refugees, etc., in their Football Social Responsibility 2030 agenda.

More efforts needed

The MWL is supporting the MFA with resources and know-how on this issue. Speaking with Euractiv, representatives mentioned two events where they collaborated in introducing the topic of gender-based violence to coaches, managers and players in women’s teams in the country.

But despite efforts, women’s lives in Malta are still at risk. The phenomenon of femicide has not stopped. Three women were murdered in 2022, while there have been two killings so far in 2024.

The country has a police unit specifically set up to deal with cases of domestic violence, as well as a Commission on Gender-Based and Domestic Violence. It still could not stop the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi by her ex-partner in August.

While GOALSCORE is important because it can make a change in the lives of female athletes in case they ever face such situations, more action is needed overall to fundamentally change society’s perception and reaction to the phenomenon.

Resources and guidelines for victims include domestic violence support systems and a gender-based and domestic violence unit, while assistance can also be found with the Women’s Rights Foundation.

[By Xhoi Zajmi I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]