ARIADNE – Project against gender based violence

Gender equality may be institutional enshrined in Greece years now, but the reality is far different.

  • 1 in 5 women is in an abusive relationship
  • 50% of women murdered every year are victims of their husbands or partners
  • 1 in 3 women, who arrives at emergency department, is a domestic violence victim

Dozens of victims, murdered women by husbands or partners were registered in Greece the last years. When we talk about abuse, we are actually talking about serious violations of human rights. We are talking about a crime committed in secret, in the private sphere. If it was committed under different circumstances or in a different relationship, the perpetrator would have been punished. On the contrary, the vast majority of domestic violence perpetrators enjoy immunity, a peculiar impunity. It is a taboo subject because it touches deeply rooted beliefs and stereotypes. The commission of this crime is "allowed", because the notion that men have the right to dominate women is still strong and morally legitimized.

Until 2006 Greece lacked a special legal framework for the abuse of women, but even after its enactment (Law 3500/2006), it is essentially inapplicable. At the level of supporting abused victims, the situation in Greece is tragic. Support structures are rudimentary or non-existent. At the end of 2012, the only thing accomplished, except for the repeated pronouncements, was the existence of the absolutely necessary, but insufficient, national SOS line (15900).

This is the situation in Greece when statistics show that for women between 16 and 44 years of age, domestic violence is thought to be the major cause of death and invalidity, ahead of cancer and road accidents.

ARIANDE project aspired to serve as a vehicle for changing the entrenched stereotypes. Through the anti-gender discrimination training of local government officials, NGOs and activists, ARIADNE aims to change mindsets and create the necessary structures for the practical support of women at local level.

The project was conducted in cooperation with the NGO Antigone, the Green Institute and the Heinrich Bell Foundation Greece.

The seminars were organised in 4 cities: Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioannina and Hrakleio.

Visit the project's website.