- VICTIM SUPPORT
- THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF CRIME
- Victims right to understand and to be understood
- Right to receive information from the very first contact with the competent authority
- Victims’ rights when making a complaint
- Victims’ right to receive information about their case
- The right to translation
- The right to access victim support services
- Support from victim support services
- Right to safeguards in terms of restorative justice services
- Victims’ rights who reside in another EU member state
- Right to avoid contact between victim and offender
- Victim protection during the criminal investigation
- Protection of private life
- Individual assessment of victims- Special protection
- Right to protection of victims with special needs during criminal proceedings
- Rights of the witness of crime
- CRIMINAL COURT PROCEEDINGS
- WHO IS WHO IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
- I WAS A VICTIM OF CRIME: COMMON REACTIONS
Victims of domestic violence
In Greece, domestic violence is a crime which is prosecuted according to the provisions of Law 3500/2006. In this context, Article 17(1) of Law 3500/2006 and Article 36 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CPC) clearly states that criminal proceedings shall be brought ex officio, by applying the ex officio procedure, thus without the need for the victim to make a complaint. At the same time, in the event of an appeal by the victim and in accordance with subparagraph d’ of par. 2 of Article 46 CPC, it is expressly provided that no fee must be paid for crimes against sexual freedom and financial exploitation of sexual life and crimes of domestic violence.”
In order to better inform the public, the Hellenic Police proceeded with an informative campaign “Law 3500/2006 On Domestic Violence. Criminal Behaviours — Obligations and Actions of Police Services – Provision of Aid to Victims", where answers to questions are provided.
- Which behaviours are considered criminal offence under Law 3500/2006
- Which persons are covered by the protective provisions of the Domestic Violence Act
- Actions and Obligations of the Hellenic Police Services
- Provision of aid to victims
Within the framework of its responsibilities, the Hellenic Police have created Domestic Violence Services which operate throughout the country.
The Hellenic Police handle every incident of domestic violence and inform the competent judicial authorities, while at the same time, they provide guidance and information to victims so they can find shelter, medical care, psychosocial and legal support.
Any type of violence or abuse – psychological, physical or sexual – is punishable by Law.
“If you are a victim:”
- Dial 100.
- If you are unable to speak, send a text message (sms) to 100 and include the following information: – Exact address – Full name – Type of emergency (e.g. “my life is in danger “, “I am being abused by my spouse”)]
- If you cannot contact 100 yourself, ask someone else to contact the Authorities for you (e.g. a relative or your doctor)
- Seek medical treatment and tell the doctor the whole truth.
- File a complaint at the nearest police station.
- For directions and instructions, call or send an e-mail to the Domestic Violence Services of the Hellenic Police which are located throughout the country. View the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for the Services here.
- Call the SOS 15900 hotline of the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality, which is aimed at women, for psychosocial support, legal assistance and accommodation in shelters. Contact by e-mail at sos15900@isotita.gr
“If you know someone who is a victim of domestic violence:”
- In case of emergency, dial 100 yourself.
- Inform the local Police station.
- Contact Domestic Violence Services, which operate throughout the country, by telephone or e-mail. (View the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for the Services here)
- Inform the victim on how to contact the Police Services.
- Encourage the victim to call the SOS 15900 hotline for battered women to access psychosocial support. For more information please visit: www.isotita.gr & www.womensos.gr
Source: Hellenic Police – Domestic Violence
Support services for the Victims of Domestic Violence
General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality – Advisory Centres on Violence against Women
The General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality under the Ministry of the Interior has set up and operates an integrated network of 62 facilities for female victims of violence.
This network includes the 24-hour SOS 15900 hotline, 40 Counselling Centers and 21 Shelters for female victims of violence and their children.
The SOS15900 hotline is also supported by sos15900@isotita.gr. It operates 24 hours a day/365 days a year and provides its services in Greek and English, while the cost of the call is one local call unit.
The Counselling Centers provide free psycho-social support and mental health counselling, while the services provided are now being expanded to include employment counselling for women as well as women who are subject to multiple discrimination (refugees, single parents, Roma, etc.). Information on the addresses and telephone numbers of the Counselling Centers is available at womensos.gr and on the social networking site facebook WomenSOS.gr
CONTACT:
Electronic address of the General Secretariat for Gender Equality: http://www.isotita.gr/
The Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI)
The Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) provides psychological support and legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and operates a shelter for female victims of violence and their minor children.
The Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) is a legal entity under private law, established in 1994 and operating under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Gender Equality (GSGE)
offers regional/local services that provide psychological support and legal assistance to victims of domestic violence
- provides free psychological support and legal assistance
- provides information, counselling services and support to women facing problems with employment and social exclusion
- in cooperation with the Prefecture of Athens, it has been running a shelter for female victims of violence and their minor children since 1993. CONTACT: Electronic address: https://kethi.gr/
National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA)
The National Center for Social Solidarity coordinates a network of social support services for individuals, families, and population groups experiencing a psychosocial crisis or in need of immediate social assistance
The National Center for Social Solidarity (NCS) is a legal entity under public law with its headquarters in Athens, supervised by the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity.
Its services for victims of domestic violence include:
- Direct Social Aid Line “197” for all citizens. Operating on a daily 24-hour basis. Calls are toll free.
- Social Support Center in Athens, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki
- Shelters for citizens with serious socio-economic problems in Attica
- Shelters for women, alone or with their children, who are in danger in Attica and Thessaloniki. Services provided include:
- counselling services and information on social welfare issues
- social and psychological support to individuals or families immediate accommodation for women – alone or with their children – who are in danger (mainly victims of violence – domestic violence, victims of human trafficking)short-term accommodation in shelters for individuals experiencing a crisis or social emergency
- cooperation and mediation to facilitate access to social solidarity services provided by other bodies. CONTACT: Electronic address: www.ekka.org.gr/
Inter-institutional collaboration for the protection of the victims of domestic violence
Cooperation between organizations, both in terms of referring victims of domestic violence to organizations that provide support and assistance as well as in terms of institutional exchange of views and good practice, is an important step towards effective support of victims’ rights.
A similar guide to inter-institutional cooperation (in Greek) was prepared by the Centre for Security Studies (KE.ME.A) within the framework of the European project ‘Ariadne’.