Violence against Women

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION – JUSTICEEXCHANGE OF GOOD PRACTICES ON GENDER EQUALITY____AWARENESS - RAISING ACTIVITIES TO FIGHT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS IN GREECELONDON, 7 - 8 FEBRUARY 2012THEODORA KATSIVARDAKOUHEAD OF THE DIRECTORATE OF SOCIAL POLICYGENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR GENDER EQUALITYMINISTRY OF INTERIOR - GREECE

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

3. domestic violence rape trafficking sexual harassment 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

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

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

6. SOS Helpline Operation of the SOS Helpline sinceMarch 2011 Nationwide; providing direct counseling for women victims of violence 24 hours a day / 365 days a year The Helpline SOS 15900 received 3,938 calls between 11/3/2011 and 11/1/2012. 2,957 (77% of total) complaints related to gender violence cases, of this number, 84% related to cases of domestic violence by a spouse / partner

7. 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 Centersin the 27 largest Municipalities. Budget per center: €300,000for 3-year operation The Counseling Centers providefrontline services, responding to the need for emergency assistance to women victims of violence

8. Shelters 20 Shelters in the largest Municipalities of the country Capacity of each shelter: 20 women with their children 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

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

10. Training Professionals • Counselors: • 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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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)

15. *a 350-page Guide on the provision of counseling services and support structure operations * a 90-pageHandbook 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 Counseling Methodology – Presentation Conference

16. Awareness Raising Campaign «For the last Time» 35’’ On air: March - June 2011

17. Awareness Raising Campaign

18. Awareness Raising Campaign «This is where she hurt herself» 45’’ On air: November 2011- January 2012

19. Participation in the 15thBiennale of Young Artists Awareness Raising Campaign

20. 1st Panorama of Films on Violence Against Women Awareness Raising Campaign

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

22. 5-6 programmes Budget: €70,000 each Subjects: Counseling of women victims of violence Raising social awareness Training professionals NGO funding for Programmes/initiatives on combating Violence against Women

23. 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

24. 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 fabricplus lost work-hours and productivity • Each euro invested in policies to prevent domestic violence, reduces the total cost of VAW by €87

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

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