Protest to speed up domestic violence legislation

A group of people yesterday marched in silence through Republic Street to protest against domestic violence.

Carrying placards saying "Justice for the victims", "Victims live in fear", "Violence is never acceptable" and "Where is the Domestic Violence Act?", the participants marched from City Gate to Parliament.

The silent protest was held just days after a 32-year-old woman was killed after being stabbed repeatedly in front of her seven-year-old daughter.

Among the protesters were Labour MPs Helena Dalli and Marie-Louise Coleiro.

Speaking during a separate activity later yesterday morning, Family and Social Affairs Minister Dolores Cristina said the government was committed to work for domestic violence to be curbed.

"My appeal is to get the Domestic Violence Act ready as soon as possible so that we can present it to parliament," she said, adding that she was "frustrated" that it was not ready yet.

Ms Cristina said when, towards the end of the 1980s, she starting writing about domestic violence, she was told that there was no problem, but now everyone understood that there was the need for a law.