Greece participates in EU meeting on violence against women

Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion & Family, Maria-Alexandra Kefala, participated in the informal EU ministerial meeting that addressed violence against women, held in Pamplona, Spain, on Friday.

The meeting of officials responsible for equality in EU member states – and other invited European countries – focused on current EU challenges in responding to this type of violence, such as data collection and victim support.

Topics discussed also included ongoing processes for the implementation of the 2014 Istanbul Convention’s provisions at European level.

On October 1, 2023 the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing & Combating Violence Against Women & Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) entered into force for the EU.

In her address, Kefala said that the legislative proposal for a Directive on Combating Violence Against Women & Domestic Violence adopted by the European Commission to implement the objectives set out in the Istanbul Convention “will be a milestone in creating an EU that respects, promotes and protects human rights and promotes equality in practice.”

She also referred to Greece’s SOS 15900 telephone helpline, the 44 counseling centers, the 20 hostels, and implementing the so-called ‘panic button’, “which has so far saved dozens of women”, she noted.

Finally, the Greek minister mentioned new types of violence such as revenge pornography and cyberviolence, and asked for the mobilization of all forces to protect women .

The meeting was headed by the Spanish Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, the European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli; the President of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou; and representatives of other European institutions and agencies.