In 2024, the Panic Button pilot program, a mobile phone app that will allow women to discreetly notify the Greek police in the event of any threat or danger to their life or physical integrity, will be expanded to other regions of Greece.
Panic Button is a digital service provided by the Greek state to combat violence against women.
The pilot program, known as "Combion Panikou" ("Κομβίον Πανικού"), was launched by a joint ministerial decision made by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis; the Minister of Citizen Protection, Yiannis Ikonomou; the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou; and the Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Maria Alexandra Kefalu. The program has now been expanded geographically and includes the areas under the local jurisdiction of the General Police Directorates of the Attica Region, the Thessaloniki Regional Unit, and the municipalities where the country's police departments are located.
"The government is using new technological tools to protect all women from violence. In collaboration with the Ministry of Citizen Protection, Minister Yiannis Ikonomou, and the Greek Police, we are making strides to provide the Panic Button service in many areas of the country. We sincerely thank the Vodafone Foundation for creating and providing the application to the Greek state, as well as continuing their support," said Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Maria-Alexandra Kefala. Since the beginning of the year, 134 women have activated the panic button. Unfortunately, a woman named George from the island of Salamis did not make it…
The official further added, "We are expanding the use of the panic button to help more women in our country feel safer if they experience violence or their physical integrity is threatened. We will intensify our efforts to break the cycle of violence and create a culture of zero tolerance towards violence, regardless of where it occurs and who the perpetrator is."
It should be noted that in order to connect to the Panic Button application, a woman is required to provide the following information: digital code, social security number (AMKA), full name, cell phone number, exact address and floor, name for home calls, history of violent incidents, presence of weapons with the offender, presence of children and/or pregnancy, signs of addiction and/or mental illness in the potential offender's history. The panic button was introduced on March 23, 2023.
