EUROPEAN COMMISSION – JUSTICE EXCHANGE OF GOOD PRACTICES ON GENDER EQUALITY ____ AWARENESS - RAISING ACTIVITIES TO FIGHT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS IN GREECE LONDON, 7 - 8 FEBRUARY 2012 THEODORA KATSIVARDAKOU HEAD OF THE DIRECTORATE OF SOCIAL POLICY GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR GENDER EQUALITY MINISTRY OF INTERIOR - GREECE

Violence against Women An obstacle to the achievement of • development • peace • gender equality • social cohesion

The prevention and combating of all forms of violence against women is one of the 4 strategic goals of the National Programme for Gender Equality 2010 - 2013

The facts • 2007-2009: spouse or partner; 12% of the total number of homicides 44 women victims of homicide by a • 1 in 3 women victims of domestic violence went on to marry the perpetrator even after having received abuse prior to the marriage • 2 in 3 women remain in the abusive relationship for over 10 years.

victims of domestic violence

«National Programme for Combating Violence against Women 2010-2013» • legislative measures to strengthen the institutional framework • actions to prevent the phenomenon and assist victims

SOS Helpline • Operation of the SOS Helpline since March 2011 • Nationwide; providing direct counseling for women victims of violence 24 hours a day / 365 days a year • The Helpline SOS 15900 received • 2,957 (77% of total) violence cases, of this number, 3,938 calls between 11/3/2011 and 11/1/2012.

complaints related to gender 84% related to cases of domestic violence by a spouse / partner

Counseling Centers • Creation of fourteen (14) Counseling Centers of

GSGE;

one (1) in the main seat of each Greek Region, plus one in the city of Piraeus . • Creation of twenty seven (27) Counseling Centers the 27 largest Municipalities.

• Budget per center: €300,000 for 3-year operation in • The Counseling Centers provide

frontline services

, responding to the need for emergency assistance to women victims of violence

Shelters • 20 Shelters country in the largest Municipalities of the • Capacity of each shelter: 20 women children with their • Budget per shelter: €700,000 for 3-year operation • Respond to the need for direct assistance or accommodation for women victims of violence • Operate in conjunction with the GSGE Counseling Centers

Services Provided • Psychosocial support • Legal counseling • Accommodation • Legal aid in collaboration with local Bar Associations

• Counselors: Training Professionals - an initial 30-hour training on psychosocial support and legal counseling with a gender perspective. - Continuing education on a monthly basis for one year • Police: - 209 police officers via 12 seminars on gender violence • Hospitals: - 29 male and female nurses via 2 seminars on gender violence

Awareness Raising Campaign

Key priorities and aims of our campaign:

• To publicly denounce violence against women as a violation of women’s human rights • To raise awareness on violence against women and encourage every citizen to challenge it • To widely disseminate information on existing structures and measures aimed at the protection of women victims

Awareness Raising Campaign Period of implementation: April 2011 –April 2013 • TV and radio spots • Printed material (leaflet, posters, stickers) • Info booth • Conferences

Awareness Raising Campaign Slogan SOS Helpline logo * In Greek and in 3 foreign languages

Awareness Raising Campaign

Target Groups

 Women victims of gender-based violence  Professionals handling cases of violence against women (psychologists, social workers, lawyers, police officers, doctors, etc.)  Society as a whole (women and men of all ages and backgrounds)

Awareness Raising Campaign Counseling Methodology – Presentation Conference *a 350-page Guide on the provision of counseling services and support structure operations * a 90-page Handbook of counseling specifically on sexual harassment in the workplace

Target group:

• professionals of psychosocial support & legal counseling who deal with women victims of gender violence

Presented at a Conference:

• 30 September 2011, 350 participants

Downloads from site:

140 per item

Awareness Raising Campaign

«For the last Time» 35’’

On air: March - June 2011

Awareness Raising Campaign

Awareness Raising Campaign

«This is where she hurt herself» 45’’

On air: November 2011- January 2012

Awareness Raising Campaign Participation in the 15

th

Biennale of Young Artists

1 st Awareness Raising Campaign Panorama of Films on Violence Against Women

Presentations to Schools & Students • Approximately 10 presentations a year to schools and high-school classes • Open discussion on gender violence & gender equality issues

NGO funding for Programmes/initiatives on combating Violence against Women • 5-6 programmes • Budget : €70,000 each • Subjects: – Counseling of women victims of violence – Raising social awareness – Training professionals

Funding • NSRF: Operational Programme «Administrative Reform 2007-2013» • Priority Axis III «Strengthening gender equality policies across the breadth of public administration» • Activities Category 3.2.3 «Strengthening the activities of Public Administration and Local Government for the benefit of women and combating violence» • Campaign Budget: €543,000

Cost of violence against women • Direct cost: care and support to abused and battered women and their children and services dedicated to successfully bringing perpetrators to justice • Indirect cost: most importantly the cost of human suffering, loss of human dignity and erosion of the social fabric plus lost work-hours and productivity • Each euro invested in policies to prevent domestic violence, reduces the total cost of VAW by €87

Programme Objective • Combating VAW • Development • Social Cohesion In a framework of respect for human rights and gender equality

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