A new preventive helpline, ‘Stop it Now! Malta’, has been launched by the Directorate for Child Protection to strengthen efforts aimed at preventing the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The service forms part of a wider range of initiatives focused on child protection through education, support and early intervention.
Unlike other support services, the new helpline 99059414 is specifically designed to help prevent situations of abuse before they occur. Initially, it will operate from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The initiative was announced by Minister for Social Policy and the Family Michael Falzon, who said prevention is essential because “we are still in time to provide direction so that, at an early stage, we can prevent abuse that carries very negative consequences throughout a person’s life.”
The helpline is available to adults aged 18 and over who are concerned about sexual thoughts towards minors, including online behaviour, while respecting callers’ anonymity. It is also intended for individuals currently under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse, their family members, and anyone worried about another person’s behaviour. FSWS Chief Executive Alfred Grixti explained that the service was developed in collaboration with Stop it Now! UK & Ireland, a programme that has been operating successfully for more than 20 years and has had a positive impact on those who have used it.
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