SOS Malta has underlined its commitment to fight any form and expression of gender-based violence, as it focuses on raising awareness on the Millennium Development Goal Five – improving maternal health.

As the world marked International Day For the Elimination Of Violence Against Women on Thursday, SOS Malta issued a statement stressing the importance of protection against harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, inside and outside the EU.

“We must put every effort into breaking the silence and ensuring the voices of women are heard,” the NGO said.

Around the world, as many as one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some other way, it said, most often by someone she knew, including her husband or another male family member; while one woman in four has been abused during pregnancy.

Violence against women has been called “the most pervasive, yet least recognised human rights abuse in the world”. SOS Malta said priority had to be given to this issue, which jeopardised women’s lives, bodies, psychological integrity and freedom.

Violence may have profound effects – direct and indirect – on a woman’s reproductive health including unwanted pregnancy and restricted access to family planning information and contraceptives; complications from frequent, high-risk pregnancies and lack of follow-up care; sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; persistent gynaecological problems; and psychological problems.

www.sosmalta.org/savelives