Following the tragic stabbing death of a woman outside a police station, Greece’s Minister of Citizen Protection has announced plans to establish domestic violence shelters across the country.
The announcement comes after 28-year-old Kyriaki Griva was killed on April 2 while seeking protection from her ex-boyfriend at a police station. The incident has highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence in Greece.
The Minister, Michalis Chrisochoidis, stated that shelters would be located in every police district. These facilities will provide women with temporary refuge and support during dangerous situations. The shelter locations will be kept confidential for security reasons.
Last year, police responded to approximately 12,500 domestic violence reports, translating to an incident every 45 minutes. Although this data indicates increased public awareness of support services, police and volunteer organizations have reported a roughly doubled number of allegations since 2020.
Despite calls for his resignation by the opposition party, Minister Chrisochoidis has rejected these demands.
