On the occasion of the International Day for the elimination of violence against women, the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios and the European Antiviolence Network (EAVN) co-organised on Monday 28 November 2022 an open event entitled “Intersectoral Response to Domestic Violence: Can it be achieved?”
The Municipality of Agios Dimitrios and the European Antiviolence Network (EAVN), with the cooperation of all competent Authorities and Agencies, join their forces for the timely and effective response to Domestic Violence (DV) against women and children living in the Municipality, through a dynamic and innovative initiative and collaboration implemented in the context of the project “Using the Icelandic Police’s paradigm to build a Greek multi-Agency substantial partnership, in order to strengthen the support and protection of women and children victims of domestic violence, in line with the standards of the Istanbul Convention” (#GR_IS_UnitedForDVSurvivors), implemented within the framework of the program Active citizens fund. The project #GR_IS_UnitedForDVSurvivors is coordinated by the “European Antiviolence Network”, with partner organizations the Police Headquarters of Iceland and “The Smile of the Child”.
The main objective was to send a resounding message of zero tolerance to domestic violence, to improve services for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, strengthening and systematizing the cooperation of all Agencies and Authorities that the survivors turn for protection and support.
These are goals that the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios also adopts and desires to implement, through this innovative program, as it is the first Municipality in Greece to pilot the intersectoral response procedures to domestic violence designed by the “intersectoral cooperation task force” established within the framework of the Project.
In addition, during the event, it was announced the onset of the project ISEDA that started in September 2022 entitled: Innovative Solutions to Eliminate Domestic Abuse (Horizon Europe project). More information: ISEDA | LinkedIn
The event was honored with their presence by addressing greetings: Ms. Calypso Goula, General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality, Mr. Michael Karamalakis, General Secretariat of Public Order, the Police Brigadier General Mr. Christos Manouras, Director of General Police at Hellenic Police Headquarters, Mr. Kostas Yiannopoulos, President of the Organization “The Smile of the Child’, while the National Commissioner of Icelandic Police, Ms. Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, addressed her message to the audience through a video (available here: https://youtu.be/mkHHp6TFPXY). The speakers were eight of the members of the intersectoral cooperation task force against DV:
- Maria Panoilia, Lawyer, Special Associate to the General Secretary of Justice & Human Rights, Ministry of Justice (Greece)
- Apostolos Patounas, Police Lieutenant, Department for Combating Domestic Violence, General Policing Division, Hellenic Police Headquarters
- Stefanos Alevizos, Psychologist & Valeria Linardou, Social Worker, The Smile of the Child
- Olga Themeli, Professor in Criminological Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Crete
- Sofia Bekatorou, Psychologist, Olympic gold medallist in sailing
- Eleni Kantzeli Deputy Mayor for Citizen Services and Gender Equality of the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios
- Kiki Petroulaki, Psychologist, European Anti-Violence Network (EAVN)
The event was coordinated by the Journalist, Ms. Christina Vidou, who enthusiastically responded to the request of the Municipality and the European Anti-Violence Network, demonstrating through the role of the presenter her interest and awareness in the issue of abuse.
On behalf of the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios, Deputy Mayor Ms. Eleni Kantzeli presented the synergies and new support services designed to support women and children victims of domestic violence, while the Mayor, Maria Androutsou stated in her speech, among others:
“All of us, through our institutional position, must stop dealing with these issues only on anniversaries, but with consistency in substance and in practice; with method, analysis and effective cooperation among the public intervention agencies. We must jointly develop and evolve the tools and mechanisms that will finally constitute not only the fertile ground, but also the safety net for women and children, so that we can also, form our side, support anyone in need, to break the silence”.
On behalf of the European Anti-Violence Network, Ms. Antonia Tsirigoti pointed out that:
“An intersectoral response to domestic violence is the only way to reduce the secondary victimization that now the survivors experience – thus, it is often described in many articles in the Istanbul Convention. Our goal is to create standard operating procedures (SOPs) and tools needed to begin learning to work collaboratively across sectors; the long-term vision is that someday we will reach a point that a call about domestic violence will mobilize a team that, in coordination, will support the woman and the children according to their needs: hence they will be able to provide effective protection and support, both urgent and long-term. Urgent, i.e. the moment they need it and long-term, i.e. for as long as they need it…”
Ms. Kiki Petroulaki presented 15 provisions from the Istanbul Convention (Law 4531/2018), the Law about DV (Law 3500/2006), and the Directive 2012/29/EU (Law 4478/2017) that, if there is a will for intersectoral cooperation, can be implemented immediately and stated. “Intersectoral response to domestic violence is not a nice idea … It is an OBLIGATION of the state and a RIGHT of women and children who are abused in their family!”
