Draft
AS/Ega/Inf (2006) 18
23 November 2006
aegainfdoc18_2006

Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men

Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women

Contribution of Ms Maria Kollia Tsaroucha, contact parlementarian (Greece, “Nea Dimokratia”) on the fight against domestic violence in Greece

Measures Combating Domestic Violence Adopted by Greece

Domestic violence is a crucial social phenomenon, which is rapidly rising worldwide. The phenomenon assumes serious proportions in Greece as well, although it does not seem to have reached the level that other European countries face. Nevertheless, still as it concerns to domestic violence, statistical data can only tell a part of the story, because many people consider this issue as a taboo, and therefore, many cases of internal violence are never brought to the light and remain inside the family.

Surveys conducted in Greece explode the myth that both the victims of internal violence and the perpetrators are people with low educational or financial level. However, it is greatly worrying that most of the women either are not aware of the fact that internal violence is an abusive behavior or they consider themselves to be responsible for it, perpetuating social stereotypes about the gender roles.

Combating internal violence is an issue of promoting democracy and protecting basic human rights. That is why Greece, like all the member states of the Council of Europe, is taking important measures, in order to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, so as to defend women’s rights and reassure democratic values.

The General Secretariat for Gender Equality is the governmental agency, competent to plan, implement and monitor the policies on equality between men and women in all sectors. It has established two consultation centers for women which are victims of violence. Those consultation centers provide free phyco – social support and legal advise to enable women to choose and make the best possible decisions for their future according to their personality and the way they wish to live their lives. Those services are provided within an integrated framework of actions that support, consult and follow up each woman’s development.

Furthermore, the General Secretariat for Gender Equality is funding and supervising the Research Center for Gender Equality, KETHI. One of the main activities of KETHI is the support of the women who are victims of domestic violence. So far, KETHI has been active in organizing national campaigns to sensitize public opinion and official agencies about domestic violence. The main activities of the campaign were to hang a giant poster in 150 locations in 5 major cities, to produce and transmit television and radio messages on broadcast stations and to produce printed information including an information leaflet “Break the Silence”.

For the time period 2004 – 2008, the General Secretariat for Gender Equality, in cooperation with political parties, women’s organizations and gender sectors of social bodies, has already prepared a political program of action, concerning gender equality which has been adopted by the Greek Government.

According to this program, combating domestic violence is considered as a vital issue of priority, which is in absolute correlation with the achievement of social cohesion in the Greek society.

The General Secretariat for Gender Equality in its attempt to combat internal violence takes actions such as:

ü Conducting researches in order to combat better the phenomenon of domestic violence
ü Collecting data concerning cases of violated women in order to draw out conclusions on the phenomenon and publishing annual reports in order to inform the public
ü Organizing an awareness – raising campaign targeting public opinion and competent agencies regarding domestic violence against women
ü Drafting and promoting legislation on preventing and combating domestic violence, in cooperation with co-competent Ministries
ü Reinforcing the Reception Centers for women victims of violence which operate in Athens and Piraeus, as well as KETHI’s consultation centers, which operate in large Greek cities, such as Thessaloniki, Patra, Herakleion, Volos, expanding their role and stuffing them with personnel specialized in relevant matters and at the same time training their existing staff.
ü Developing the possibility to provide consultation support to men that violate against women.
ü Upgrading the Shelter for women victims of violence and their children, which operates in cooperation with the Athens Municipality, and promoting the establishment of another shelter in Thessaloniki.

In its field of action the General Secretariat for Gender Equality created a Task Force in order to conduct a research on the issue of domestic violence. In the Report of the Task Force there are concrete suggestions on dealing with the issue of domestic violence, which were incorporated in the recent law on domestic violence that was adopted during the summer of 2006.

The law mentioned above sets the definition of the domestic violence, recognizes domestic violence as a particular crime and provides for certain penalties. Moreover, the law is providing for the removal of a violent spouse from the marital home, as well as, the necessary moral and material assistance to the victims by institutions that have been set up for that reason. Last but not least, marital rape is recognized as a punishable criminal offence against the person and personal freedom.

Legal reforms have been adopted in the local level, as well. More specifically, according to the New Code for Municipalities and Communities, the municipalities and communities in Greece have the competence to provide support and consultation to the victims of domestic violence. Similar provisions are going to be included to the new Code for Prefectural Self – Government.

Of course there are more measures to be taken until all women in Greece are totally enjoying their rights. I express my hope that my country will move on further reforms, so as to eliminate the cases of domestic violence and similar phenomena.