Trapped not only at home but also in situations where, while they want, they feel that they can not stop, thousands of women live in our country. The implementation of strict measures to avoid its spread coronavirus, the first and the second quarantine isolated them in already violent or suffocating environments and highlighted the violence in a highly worrying intensifying behavior. This phenomenon, which has increased rapidly in recent times, has taken on dimensions that require the creation of a strict network of actions for the prevention, protection of victims and punishment of perpetrators.
«Violence against women is a phenomenon that is clearly due to the stereotypical perception of the inferiority of women. It is the manifestation of a mentality established for centuries, dominant in our country as well, which in order to shake off requires the mobilization of every force, led by the power of education and followed by the power of justice, solidarity and, of course, culture "points out the 1st A report on Violence against Women was published in November by the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality and is dedicated to student Eleni Topaloudi who was raped and killed in Rhodes.
According to data released by the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality In the period from November 1, 2019 to October 31, 2020, a total of 4.872 women found the courage and asked for support.
Of these complaints, 1.875, ie 38,50%, were in Attica, 338 (7%) in Thessaloniki and 273 (5,6%) in Crete.
In our country the period of the first quarantine Calls to the SOS Hotline 15900 increased by 230%.
As the Secretary General of Family Policy and Gender Equality, Maria Syregela, emphasizes speaking to newsbeast.gr, "unfortunately the phenomenon of domestic violence in the midst of lockdown is global. It has no borders. It has no social stratification. It does not concern specific income criteria. It is global and non-discriminatory. "
"During the first period of the home restriction, calls to the 15900 line increased significantly. There were more allegations of violence against women and secondarily violence against children. This increase in complaints occurs because in times of crisis, as well as in times when the couple spends more time together, incidents of violence increase. We must point out, however, that the increase in calls does not mean that violent men who were not at home before being confined suddenly became violent. The outbursts of those who were already violent towards their partners become more frequent ", points out Maria Syregela and adds:
"The increase in complaints is mainly due to the government's television campaign to inform and raise public awareness about the Structures Network of the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality (the SOS Hotline 15900, Counseling Centers and hostels throughout Greece). "We stay at home but we do not remain silent", was the main message of the spot we created and apparently it paid off ".
"In any case, violence has no geographical, social, economic, educational restrictions," said the Secretary General of Family Policy and Gender Equality.
"Both the victims themselves and their circle have hesitated or are hesitant to talk about the problem. Fear and ignorance of their rights and the means available to support them are the determinants of silence. However, I must say that the situation is gradually changing, as there is now a wide range of information on the institutional framework, but also the structures of the GGOPIF Network for dealing with violence against women. We work for these women every day and we try in every way to get our message against violence everywhere. However, if we can say that there is something positive through this, it is that the friendly / kinship environment is starting to be activated ", underlines Maria Syregela speaking to newsbeast.gr and reveals that"During the first lockdown, three out of ten incidents of violence were reported by third parties, such as parents, children, siblings, neighbors and friends.».
"Women now recognize what domestic violence means, what 'physical' and 'sexual' violence mean because we immediately recognize the trauma they cause to our bodies.
Its most serious and less recognizable appearance, however, is found in the traumas of the soul, which, while not obvious, become deeper, long-lasting and often indelible.. The definition of violence against women under the Council of Europe Convention (Istanbul Convention) clarifies matters for all forms of violence. As ”violence against women"Means the violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and means all acts of gender-based violence which result in, or may result in, physical, sexual, psychological or financial harm or pain to women; including threats to commit such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private life, "he said.
They can call the 24-hour telephone line SOS 15900 and receive psychological, social and legal support from the line counselors.
If their physical integrity is immediately threatened, they should immediately get the 100 or contact the nearest police station.
"The network of structures of the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality consists, apart from 15900, of 42 Counseling Centers and 20 Hostels that are worth saying that they function well and perform their duty even in these difficult conditions of the health crisis with a unique aimed at supporting women in need. We strengthened their operation with a series of synergies that we achieved, such as the one with the Hellenic Forensic Medicine Society for the conduct of necessary examinations for the admission of women victims of violence in the Hostels of the Network. With the Hotel Chamber of Greece for the provision of free emergency accommodation to interested women (until their medical examinations are completed). "With the" Child's Smile "for the incidents that involved children" explains Maria Syregela and clarifies:
"The services and structures of G.G.O.P.I.F. addressed to women - victims of violence. There have been some individual complaints of men - victims of violence, which we refer to the National Center for Social Solidarity and the three-digit number 197 ".