Democracy

The Democracy Programme of the Heinrich Böll Foundation tries to strengthen the involvement of citizens in democratic procedures, through the implementation of participatory processes at the local level and by using various tools, but also by conducting surveys and workshops, conferences and other events on issues linked with the wider Rule of Law thematic. At the same time, it supports evidence-based advocacy actions by civil society actors with a view to achieving systemic change. By promoting dialogue, cooperation and participation, it hopes to promote and further strengthen democratic values.

Programme Coordinator
Recent Articles
Κοινωνικός Άτλας Θεσσαλονίκης cover

Thessaloniki Social Atlas: Mapping a changing city

REPORT
The Thessaloniki Social Atlas, a new digital project with the signature of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, was launched with a major public event. This platform, which resembles an open online “encyclopedia” for the urban space and anthropogeography of Thessaloniki, offers - perhaps for the first time - an organized, interdisciplinary and fully documented material, with emphasis on the visual representation of data, addressed to the scientific community, the general public, but also to decision makers and policy makers at the same time.
By Vasilis Kyriakoulis
Δημοσκόπηση αποχή teaser

Decoding the abstention from elections - Findings of a nationwide poll

SURVEY
The national elections of June 2023, as well as the European elections of 2024, recorded the highest abstention rates in the 20-year period 2004-2024. This fact is investigated, in terms of its qualitative characteristics, by the present survey of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Kappa Research leading polling agency, which was conducted between 3-17 July 2024. In this article, you can read some of the key findings, but also find the entire survey in pdf format.
Νομοθετική αντιμετώπιση της έμφυλης βίας

Gender-based violence: Does the practice meet the law?

REVIEW
Violence against women is particularly alarming, as one in three women have been subjected to physical or sexual violence. In this article, lawyer Ekaterini Georgiadou provides an unparalleled critical review of the legislative framework for gender-based violence in Greece. She examines the provisions of the Istanbul Convention and the severe concerns reflected in GREVIO's evaluation report about the implementation of the Convention in Greece. Furthermore, she focuses in particular on the newly adopted EU Directive on combating violence against women, which Member States are obliged to transpose into their national law within three years.
By Ekaterini Georgiadou
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Dossiers
Πόλη και ύπαιθρος

Urban–rural divide

DOSSIER
The over-concentration of population, power, resources and opportunities in large cities is a characteristic feature of Greece, which creates a clear and multilevel gap between urban and rural areas. The prolonged economic crisis and the demographic problem have put the sustainability and long-term prospects of the Greek countryside at risk. With this special dossier, the Heinrich Böll Foundation is launching a public debate on this overlooked issue, addressing it in all its complexity and presenting not only the problems but also best practices that can serve as an example for Greek cities and regions.
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Gender based violence

DOSSIER
Gender-based violence has many shapes: from physical or psychological abuse, deprivation of economic opportunities within the family to sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse at the workplace or in the online space. The consequences of gender-based violence can range from emotional harm and suffering, social stigmatization and isolation, to life threatening injury and death. While GBV affects primarily women and girls, it is a serious human rights violation and can be destructive for families and communities at large.
Related Publications
Feminist mapping

Feminist mapping: The experience from the “Ioannina: Bridges of Participation” project

PUBLICATION
Urbana and the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s project “Ioannina: Bridges of Participation” focuses on women and LGBTQ+ people whose needs in the city have been neglected. This publication captures the experience from the aforementioned project as well as the collective experiences in the city from a gender perspective, offering a framework for practical and political action.
By Eva Grigoriadou and Pinelopi Alexiou
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