Domestic violence reflected the dominant patriarchal culture prevalent in Malta, which had, unfortunately, been normalised in many ways, the Malta Confederation of Women's Organisations said.

Domestic violence was a crime which should not be tolerated and all claims should be taken seriously regardless of those involved, the confederation said in a statement.

The organisation said it took a lot of courage for survivors of domestic violence to lodge a claim and try to bring an end to it.

For this reason, these persons should not be victimised further or be threatened in any way. Instead they should be given the support they needed to exit from this situation.

The statement comes as the leader of the Nationalist Party faces accusations of domestic abuse against his wife, claims which he has rejected.

The MCWO is an umbrella organisation that represented 12 local member organisations which collectively had around 24,000 female members. It is is a full member of the Brussels-based European Women’s Lobby.