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Greece: State protection available to Albanian victims of domestic abuse

The Research Directorate did not find reports discussing domestic violence within Greece's Albanian minority or state protection specific to this community among the sources consulted.

In their 2002 statement to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) observed that domestic violence was widespread in Greece and pervades all social and ethnic groups (IHF 19 Sept. 2002, 24). Even so, the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT) noted in July 2002 that there was "no adequate, comprehensive data on the extent of domestic violence suffered by Greek women" (July 2002, 9). The NGOs, however, report that an estimated 83 percent of Greek women have "suffered from some form of domestic abuse, either psychological or physical" (ibid.). One Athens crisis centre, for example, received more than 3,000 cases between 1989 and 2002, and in 2001, received 5,278 requests for help from women, many of whom reported being long term victims of abuse (ibid.).

One news report remarked that the act of speaking out "on matters of physical and/or emotional violence from a lover or spouse is still tainted by a considerable stigma in Greece [and] public shame [is] directed to the woman" (Greece Now 20 Feb. 2002). In 2000, Greek Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou referred to a "'conservative majority'" that considers domestic violence to be a private matter (Athens News 16 June 2000), a viewpoint that is also reportedly prominent among law enforcement agencies (IHF 19 Sept. 2002, 24), doctors and family members of victims (GHM and OMCT July 2002, 10-11).

According to various reports, Greece does not have legislation that specifically protects women from domestic violence (IHF 19 Sept. 2002, 24; Country Reports 2002 31 Mar. 2003, Sec. 5; UN 23 Aug. 2002, 3), although the GHM and OMCT report noted that the Greek criminal code includes general provisions under which women might press charges (July 2002, 10). Should a woman decide to press charges, the state is unable to provide adequate support facilities for her protection (GHM and OMCT July 2002, 10). Greek law enforcement is ill-equipped to respond to situations of domestic violence as it does not have units specifically trained in matters relating to the abuse of women (Greece Now 20 Feb. 2002; GHM and OMCT July 2002, 11). Marital rape is not criminally sanctioned (ibid.; IHF 19 Sept. 2002, 24) and, although a Greek representative stated that a draft law was pending (UN 19 Aug. 2002), the Research Directorate did not find reports indicating it has been passed.

For detailed discussions on the situation of women and state protection afforded to victims of domestic violence, please consult Greece's most recent report to the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (UN 6 Dec. 2001) and the parallel report published by the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and the Minority Rights Group-Greece (MRG-G) (July 2002).

Availability of Refuge and Crisis Hotlines

According to GHM and MRG-G, the creation of shelters for victims of domestic violence falls under municipal responsibility (July 2002, 11). Only "a handful" of shelters for battered women exist in Greece (Kathimerini 14 June 2003), including the Athens Shelter for Abused Women, which opened in 1993 (Greece Now 20 Feb. 2002; RCGE 27 May 2003; GHM and OMCT July 2002, 9). Greece Now refers to only two shelters situated in Athens and Pireaus (Greece Now 20 Feb. 2002). According to GHM and OMCT, 80 percent of those accommodated by the Athens shelter between 1993 and 1999 were victims of violence and sexual abuse (July 2002, 9).

The government-run Research Center for Gender Equality (RCGE or KETHI in Greek) (UN 19 Aug. 2002) based in Athens has also assisted victims of abuse in their branch offices in Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos and Heracleion (RCGE 27 May 2003; see also Athens News 14 Feb. 2003). The General Secretariat of Equality (GSE), an independent government agency, operates reception centres for abused women in Athens and Pireaus that offer legal advice and psychological support (Country Reports 2002 31 Mar. 2003, Sec. 5; GHM and OMCT July 2002, 10) as well as a guest house of limited capacity in Athens (ibid.). In addition distress lines to advise women in times of crisis are offered by both the RCGE (Greece Now 29 Mar. 2001) and the GSE (Country Reports 2002 31 Mar. 2003, Sec. 5).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Athens News. 14 February 2003. Kathy Tzilivakis. "The Female Dimension." <http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.print_unique?e=C&f=13001&m=A17&aa=3&eidos=S> [Accessed 3 Nov. 2003]

_____. 16 June 2000. Kathy Tzilivakis. "Greek Women Urged to 'Break Silence' on Domestic Violence." <http://www.athensnews.gr/athweb/nathens.print_unique?e=C&f=12676&m=A04&aa=1&eidos=S> [Accessed 3 Nov. 2003]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002. 31 March 2003. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18368.htm> [Accessed 5 Nov. 2003]

Greece Now. 20 February 2002. "When Silence Isn't Golden." <http://www.greece.gr/LIFE/Lifestyle/whensilenceisntgolden.stm> [Accessed 3 Nov. 2003]
_____. 29 March 2001. "Bridging the Gender Gap." <http://www.greece.gr/POLITICS/InternalAffairs/bridgingthegendergap.stm> [Accessed 3 Nov. 2003]

Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and Minority Rights Group-Greece (MRG-G). July 2002. Parallel Report on Greece's Compliance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. <http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/organizations/ghm_mrgg_cedaw.rtf> [Accessed 5 Nov. 2003]

Greek Helsinki Monitor and Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT). July 2002. Violence Against Women In Greece. <http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/organizations/ghm_omct_cedaw.doc> [Accessed 5 Nov. 2003]

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF). 19 September 2002. "Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities: Women's Rights in OSCE Member States." OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Warsaw, 9-19 September 2002. Statements by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF). <http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewdocument.php?doc_id=520> [Accessed 3 Nov. 2003]

Kathimerini [Athens]. 14 June 2003. Nikos Konstandaras. "Rattling the Chains." <http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_9411661_14/06/2003_30788> [Accessed 5 Nov. 2003]

Research Center for Gender Equality (RCGE) [Athens]. 27 May 2003. "Violence Against Women." <http://www.kethi.gr/English/bia/home.htm> [Accessed 3 Nov. 2003]

United Nations (UN). 23 August 2002. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Rosalyn Hazelle. "Considerations of Reports of States Parties: Greece, Combined Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports." Draft Report. <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedawExsess/ConcComments/ConComGreece.PDF> [Accessed 5 Nov. 2003]
_____. 19 August 2002. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). "Greece Describes Wide Range of Legislation Promoting Gender Equality as Anti-Discrimination Committee Continues Exceptional Session." Press Release WOM/1361. <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/WOM1361.doc.htm> [Accessed 5 Nov. 2003]
_____. 6 December 2001. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). "Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: Combined Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports of States Parties, Greece." <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/reports.htm> [Accessed 6 Nov. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Research Center for Gender Equality

Internet sites, including:

Council of Europe

Greece. General Secretariat of Equality

Greek Society of Victimology

Hellenic Research Network

Ifeminists.com

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

Network of East-West Women

Stop Violence Against Women (SVAW)

Women's Commission for Refugees and Children