According to an online survey that took place in Greece from July to October, more than 3 in 10 women have been victims of domestic violence.
The survey was conducted by the Citizen Protection Ministry and the Center for Security Research, following an increase in reported abuse during the first lockdown.
The online survey was completed by 750 women, of whom 36% said they had been victims of violence not long ago.
Evi Lezgi, psychologist for the help line 15900 stated that during the first lockdown which lasted for 42 days, the help line had 3,000 calls and 500 emails.
She also noted that "children and teenagers were calling while violent incidents were taking place at home and their mothers couldn't place a call."
Based on data collected from the above survey, authorities said the victims were usually women aged 38 to 39, married and with an average of two children. Four in 10 had a college degree, including a PhD, and lived in urban areas.
In terms of the perpetrators of violence, 8 in 10 were men with a median age of 45, 4 in 10 were college graduates, worked at full-time jobs and had no history of violence.
The survey results were presented at an online discussion on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
"In terms of social demographics, statistically the victims' profile does not deviate significantly from that of the general sample," Vassiliki Artinopoulou, Professor of criminology at Panteion University said during the online event.
"Violence against women is not a seasonal infection," sociologist Dimitris Stefanidis, member of the Alexandroupolis Counseling Center said. "We confirm the rise of this violence on a daily basis through several incidents we are called upon to handle in the Alexandroupolis area. Gender stereotypes are more resilient here and it's harder to deconstruct them," he added.
25 November has been designed as the Orange Day by the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign. The colour orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence. It also serves as a means of demonstrating your solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence and it is therefore used as the colour of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. As a show of solidarity, the UNESCO globe will be illuminated in orange.
The Hellenic Parliament was lit up in orange on Wednesday evening, as part of an international campaign aimed at tackling violence against women.
As part of the initiative, the slogan “No to violence” was projected on the building.
Phaedra’s Windmill on the Greek island of Hydra, was illuminated in orange on Wednesday November 25 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
“Violence against women is a blatant violation of human rights and does not know colour, class, race or age. It can happen in any family, in any home and in any woman. This symbolic movement aims to prevent all forms of gender-based violence as well as to inform and sensitize more and more people in order to create a collective culture of zero tolerance for violence against women. Silence and fear are allies in the spread of such phenomena. Silence is complicity. Speak, do not be afraid,” Deputy mayor and Chairwoman of the Equality and Gender Committee of the Municipality, Mary Katsika said.