Today, 10^th December, marks Human Rights Day and this year’s theme is Recover Better, urging the world to make human rights central to our recovery from the pandemic. It is by no coincidence that the 16 Days of Activism, an international effort to raise awareness and end violence against women, end on Human Rights Day. Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a scourge on our local and global society. It has been coined the Shadow Pandemic. It was a pandemic before Covid-19 and it will remain a pandemic after Covid-19, and for those suffering, the impact of Covid-19 pandemic has left them more vulnerable due to isolation, loss of jobs and delays in the justice systems, amongst others.

Women For Women Foundation (WFWF) receives around 6 messages every day from women who have been victims of IPV and can see how widespread the problem is. Social workers and support workers contact WFWF to support their clients who are in crises with in-kind donations, either of used items, or to cover a bill, repair cost or purchase cost of badly needed items such as white goods.

During the 16 Days of Activism, WFWF contributed to raising awareness on violence against women by publishing 12 red flags and 4 articles about Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

You can read the articles here and find the red flags here.

If you or someone you know is experiencing IPV and need support, you call the Appogg National Supportline 179, and a police report can be lodged at the Domestic Violence Unit at Depot, Floriana Tel: 2294 2717.