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Greece cracks down on domestic violence
Source ::: REUTERS
Athens • Like any Mediterranean country, Greece has traditionally taken pride in
the assumption that it protects children, women and the elderly from any abuse.
But a recent spate of high-profile violent incidents have forced officials to
admit a sharp increase in domestic violence and child abuse cases and prompted
the government to draft a new bill slapping tougher sentences on offenders.
“Domestic violence is a social disease,” Justice Minister Anastasios
Papaligouras told Reuters in an interview yesterday. “It is a grisly issue and
very widespread; some say in one out of three homes, others in one out of four
homes.”
Recent headlines about a Greek children’s camp psychologist charged with
paedophilia and a baby dying in hospital after being beaten to death by its
parents have shocked the public.
“We have no systematic research to know the specific number but the feeling
everywhere is that there is a spike in such phenomena, not only against children
in the form of physical or sexual abuse, but also women, who are the main
victims, and the elderly,” he said.
He said the rise in cases of child abuse was partly linked to a change in modern
Greek society, allowing for a larger number of extended family members or
caretakers to replace the immediate family.
Papaligouras has drafted a new bill which includes far stiffer sentences for
violent spouses or partners and for sex offenders against children. Parliament
is expected to pass the bill within the coming two weeks.
Currently paedophiles or violent spouses found guilty of misdemeanour charges
are likely to face a suspended sentence or a fine and never go to jail.
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