Financial Independence to Strengthen Domestic Violence Prevention

The programme of activities forming part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Domestic Violence continued with the signing of a three-year agreement between the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, the Local Government Division, and Bank of Valletta.

Through this agreement, the three entities will work together to deliver financial education within communities, with a particular focus on identifying and avoiding situations that lead to financial control and dependence — one of the forms of domestic violence.

The agreement was signed by the Commissioner for Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, Samantha Pace Gasan; the Director General of the Local Government Division, Emil Vassallo; and Simon Azzopardi on behalf of Bank of Valletta.

Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, explained that this financial education campaign is essential because it aims to reduce economic dependence, which often becomes the root cause of psychological abuse and a means of control in abusive relationships.

She added that this agreement marks another step in the implementation of the national strategy against domestic violence, and she thanked Bank of Valletta for its support in this campaign.

Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, highlighted that Local Councils are the authorities closest to citizens, and through this agreement with the Commission and Bank of Valletta, several councils will be hosting professional training sessions on financial literacy and independence.

Parliamentary Secretary Zerafa Civelli stated, “This commitment strengthens our communities and confirms that prevention starts at the local level.”

Bank of Valletta’s Chief Personal and Wealth Officer, Simon Azzopardi, said the bank will support the initiative by providing its resources to offer free educational sessions to the public, as it believes financial knowledge is a form of protection and prevention against financial dependence.

He explained that the training sessions, taking place in the coming months with the cooperation of Local Councils, aim to give individuals the confidence and independence needed to break the cycle of financial control if they are experiencing it.

#MaltaDaily