To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, the Greek state launched the new campaign titled “SOS 15900: ‘Talk to us’.”
The campaign’s central slogan urges women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence to seek help by dialing the Greek hotline 15900. The hotline offers support from social workers, lawyers, and psychologists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To ensure maximum reach, the message is being carried across Greece’s mass transit system.
The campaign launch was attended by Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs Domna Michailidou, Deputy Minister for Equality and Human Rights Elena Rapti, and Alternate Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis.
This new campaign comes at a time of sobering figures regarding violence against women and girls in Greece.
In a press release, Hellenic Police Chief, Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios revealed that just over the past 10 months, police across Greece have been called to deal with over 19,000 cases of domestic violence, and averaged 47 arrests per day.
In a separate statement, Hellenic Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis provided updates on the “Panic Button,” the mobile app that alerts authorities with a silent alarm.
According to Chrisochoidis, usage of the Panic Button app has increased by 12% this year. The Panic Button app can be installed only at police stations and in the 44 counseling centers situated throughout Greece. So far, a total of 5000 panic buttons have been installed.
Broader reporting of violence against women and girls has also risen, with calls to Greek police reaching 30,500 this year, up from 27,000 last year.
Cover Photo Credit: Urban Innovative Actions