The everyday life that we must change
Recently, the natural disasters that occur in our country have monopolized the news. And it makes perfect sense. At the same time, the newspapers write about several attempts of violence against women. Attacks in the center of Athens, in the workplaces where these women work, in their homes as usual. Not everything has a happy ending, however, an incident that involves violence but does not result in a cold murder can be considered.
Measures such as the panic button have proven effective. Research shows that many women have used it. An important tool, a digital application provided free of charge to female victims of domestic violence, who, after installing it on a smartphone, have the ability to immediately and securely notify the Greek Police in cases of domestic violence, linked to a threat or danger of life or bodily integrity. Except that for a woman to install the panic button, she must have experienced an incident of violence in the past and it must have been recorded.
Does anyone reasonably think how many women would have been saved if they had the app on their cell phones, precisely because they have reasonable suspicions that they might be the next victim of femicide? In reality, Greek society has not woken up as much as it should on the topic of domestic violence. Society’s reaction is intense but soon deflates to allow for a reaction to other social issues. That’s human. This is where the responsibility of the state, organizations, and communities begins. It is time for the information to pass from elementary school and intensify in middle school and high school.
To teach our boys and girls. To make healthy citizens who will later make healthy relationships.
For society to invest in the new generation. A generation free of sexist stereotypes and dangerous clichés. To continue the campaigns all year round, to hold days all year round, not to talk about the issue of violence on women’s day, or on the day to eliminate violence against women.
Victims must also have access to justice they are entitled to compensation they have access to toll-free helplines and rape victim support centers. Let’s deal more with this very serious issue and not wait for a femicide to remind us of it. Violence happens next to us, in nearby houses, in our circle of friends, or sometimes in family. Let’s break the cycle of silence and speak out. Primarily we should learn to support the victims. They have a huge need for it in order to build their lives from scratch.
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