EUROPEAN COMMISSION – JUSTICE EXCHANGE OF GOOD PRACTICES ON GENDER EQUALITY ____ AWARENESS - RAISING ACTIVITIES TO FIGHT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS IN GREECE LONDON, 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

The facts : 44 women victims of homicide by a spouse or partner; 12% of the total number of homicides 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 victims of domestic violence remain in the abusive relationship for over 10 years.

«National Programme for Combating Violence against Women » 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 received 3,938 calls between 11/3/2011 and 11/1/ ,957 (77% of total) complaints related to gender violence cases, of this number, 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 in the 27 largest Municipalities. Budget per center: €300,000 for 3-year operation The Counseling Centers provide frontline services, responding to the need for emergency assistance to women victims of violence

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

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

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

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

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

*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 Counseling Methodology – Presentation Conference Awareness Raising Campaign

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

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

Participation in the 15 th Biennale of Young Artists Awareness Raising Campaign

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

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

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

Funding NSRF: Operational Programme «Administrative Reform » Priority Axis III «Strengthening gender equality policies across the breadth of public administration» Activities Category «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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