The SHE Word S5/02- Women Survivors of Domestic Violence
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In Malta 1 in 3 women will experience intimate partner violence.
Let that sink in for a second, because if you haven't personally experienced intimate partner violence or domestic violence, then there is a good chance that someone you love has.
Tragically Domestic Violence becomes a topic for discussion when femicide hits the headlines, but the truth is that victims are all around us, regardless of age, background, social status, colour, nationality. In Malta statistics show a 20% increase in the cases of domestic violence from 2020, but sadly because domestic violence carries so much shame and secrecy we know that most cases go unreported and the victims suffer in silence.
In this OUTSTANDING show, three brave and courageous women share their journeys and experiences.
Elaine Compagno is General Manager at the incredible Women for Women Foundation, Elaine has also been the manager of SOAR - a survivor-led service that works towards enabling survivors of violence.
Sefora Aquilina is the amazingly inspirational influencer who most will know by the name 'Diego and Us' on Instagram. Sefora shares her journey with her beautiful family but has also often spoken out about her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor and inspired many other women in doing so.
Rachel Williams is a familiar face, a law student, a full time employee as a customer service specialist, a mum, an outspoken activist and a counsellor in St Pauls Bay, as well as a domestic abuse survivor.
Listen as these bold women explain how they found themselves violently abused by the very person they believed loved them. Understand as they share their thoughts on the dependency trap, and what ultimately lead them to leave. Cheer these women on as they reflect on the beautiful reality of life after abuse. Learn how to support a friend in a domestic violence situation, and if you are personally affected, find out how you can escape and begin a new life without violence.
If you are affected by this topic please reach out for help:
If you are in immediate danger please call the Police: 112
The Domestic Violence Unit Support Line: 179
Anonymous Online Support Line Kellimni: Kellimni.com
Victim Support: +356 2122 8333, info@victimsupport.org.mt
SOAR: +356 2180 9011 / +356 2180 8981 / +356 2767 2367
well done on this fantastic episode...we need to talk more about this topic and lets not forget that men get affected too.
This podcast is one of the best on the island- well done to you Trudy as well as the ladies who are brave enough to share their stories to all of us. Thank you x
Well done to these three courageous women for sharing their domestic violence experience. Hopefully, the women out there who are going through the same journey and have so far kept their mouth shut for various reasons known only to them, will pluck up courage and make the first move and reach out for help after listening to this podcast. Wishing the very best of luck to these beautiful women, most of all, good health, love and happiness which they all surely deserve. Thank you Trudy Kerr for this amazing show.....please keep them coming!
What a powerful episode hopefully it will help women who go through such horrendous experiences reach out for help before it's too late. Well done Trudi and all the lovely courageous and inspiring women on the episode
Hearing this podcast took me back to memory lane 🫤 Thank God I'm in a better place now ..had the courage to move on.....was not easy at all !!!! Courts take so long !!!! Next year will be the closure after 12 yrs battling back & forth !!!! It's a draining rollercoaster !!!
Thank you for revealing the truth that so many have stifled. Allow me to add a few points:
1) within a Maltese family context the victim doesn’t have only one perpetrator but a whole family of perpetrators; the husband’s family members’ intrusions are often triggers behind what happens behind closed doors,
2) You all speak highly of psychological help; you have been luckier than others. Again, within a Maltese context, the social hierarchy influences the psychological help owed to the victim
3) You also refer to the friends who helped you; congratulations for that. However, the unhappy truth is that the moment the victim breaks the silence, the immediate consequence is often isolation. Far too many “friends” consider the victim as the disruptive influence; the person who needs to be ostracized for having disrupted harmony.
13:43
Well done for this conversation and thank you for your courage to share your hardships with us ❤ I am sure this will save more than just one woman!
Thank you
Well done to a fantastic programme. It was very interesting. I hope some lady's will open their eyes. Life is really short. And beautiful once you love yourself. Thanks ❤
Well done to all and to Alison 🌻
I feel like someone understands me at last ❤
If one in 3 were falling sick, because of certain illness, by now we would all have learned how to prevent it, protect ourselves and others. Abuse, not.
A certain type of personality attracts that kind of man, a personality usually product of a particular type of parenting and family life.
Woman, who is secure and strong within herself will never allow a man of that sort to be a part of her life. It is when those men give us the false sense of safety, love and complete control over everything we feel "safe". Only to later on take to another dimension, where it all blends and we can no longer distinguish. Good, bad. Right, wrong.
Those men will always exist, but a woman, young girl growing and being made to feel safe, loved and protected by her family will be better equipped and would never need to resort to " love" of that type. We need to teach our children to learn to say" No", and that who wouldn't respect the "No" must have no place in their life.
For the ones who have already grown up, they need to check themselves. Like a check up at the doctors. Am I ok? Am I feeling good? Am I happy? Why am I here doing what I am doing? Am I doing things I love. Do I feel like I am growing and improving? Does it feel like I am living this reality, or does it feel like I am watching somebody else's life?
A partner who is not supportive of you growing in life, must have no place in that equation.
Victims will only ever realise they are victims and they need a way out, when their family and friend's actions contradict everything that abusive partner say.
Only if they feel loved by others will they realise that his love is not love.
Only validation, respect and presence of others will make them realise that they are lovable and they have a place in other people's lives.
The family is the smallest unit of society. It all begins and ends with family
You ladies are amazing. ❤
Take care ladies
Hete mostly you are talking about physical abuse but there is also mental and economic abuse which is not talked about that much. Also most men think that if they are not hurting you physically they are not doing anything wrong. Also it's very hard for the victim to prove mental abuse because their is nothing to show like bruises
Absolutely - in fact we list the different forms of abuse at the beginning of the show, mental, physical, financial, sexual. It really is beyond just physical - but hopefully that was conveyed in the show - that it is far more than just the obvious.