Domestic Violence Survivors and Their Children in the Labyrinths of Justice: Secondary Victimisation Instead of Protection
Duration: 1 January 2027 – 31 December 2027
Implementing organisation: European Anti-Violence Network
Funding: The project is implemented within the framework of the VOICES programme, which is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights and the NGO Support Centre.
Brief description
Domestic violence remains one of the most serious forms of gender-based violence, while women survivors and their children face significant barriers to accessing protection, support and justice. Despite Greece’s international and European obligations, significant gaps persist in the implementation of the legal and institutional framework. These gaps lead to secondary victimisation when victims interact with the competent authorities and services, particularly in the case of survivors who have children with the perpetrator.
Objective
The project aims to strengthen access to justice and effective protection and support for women victims of domestic violence and their children. It will do so by identifying and documenting institutional and practical gaps, strengthening professionals’ capacities and promoting policy recommendations that contribute to reducing secondary victimisation.
Key activities
- Mapping and assessing the legal and institutional framework, focusing on the rights of women and children, protection procedures and the obligations of the competent authorities and services.
- Research involving at least 30 survivors, documenting their experiences and the barriers they encounter when seeking protection, support and justice.
- Establishing a Survivor Advisory Group of approximately 10 women, who will contribute to developing policy and advocacy recommendations through 10 working meetings.
- Three online meetings to exchange good practices with European organisations and networks.
- A two-day training programme for 25 frontline professionals, aimed at strengthening protection and support for victims and preventing secondary victimisation.
- Producing and disseminating 20 practical information resources, which will form a digital navigation guide for survivors.
- Awareness-raising and advocacy activities, including a final event presenting the project’s findings and recommendations.
Survivors’ voices in policymaking
Survivors’ lived experiences are a key source of knowledge for the project. Through their active participation, research findings will be translated into specific recommendations for improving institutions, procedures and practices.
The project also addresses frontline professionals, lawyers, members of the judiciary, public services, civil society organisations and policymakers. Children will benefit indirectly from interventions aimed at improving their protection; they will not participate directly in the project’s activities.
