Panic Button for women victims of domestic violence
CORFU. It will be provided by the Corfu Counselling Centre of the Research Centre for Gender Equality.
In January 2024, through a joint Ministerial Decision, the operation of the Panic Button programme was expanded and is now implemented in all regions of Greece.
Users of the application can be adult victims of domestic violence (e.g., by a current or former spouse/partner or another family member), who either report such an incident to a Police Department, Security Department, or Domestic Violence Response Office, where available.
Additionally, women can contact the Counselling Centres of the Network of the General Secretariat for Gender Equality and Human Rights, without any prerequisites or legal action required, as long as the woman herself believes that her life or physical integrity is at risk.
Specifically, the Panic Button is a free digital service which aims to protect women from incidents of domestic violence. It is a simple and effective tool for the timely handling of domestic violence incidents, providing protection for women who use it in cases of abuse, threats, or when their physical integrity is at risk.
It is provided free of charge to women victims of domestic violence, who, after installing it on their smartphone, can instantly and safely notify the Greek Police, allowing them to locate and respond rapidly to the woman’s location, whether at home or in a public space. It is activated by pressing a button on the woman’s smartphone, and information is automatically sent to the Greek Police for her location, enabling timely and effective intervention.
The Corfu Counselling Centre of the Research Centre for Gender Equality is part of the network of 65 support structures for the prevention and response to violence against women. It provides counselling services to women victims of gender-based violence or multiple forms of discrimination, by specialised staff (intake counsellor/administrative staff, psychologist, social worker and legal advisor).
The services are confidential and free of charge. The distribution of the Panic Button application to women victims of gender-based and domestic violence has already begun as part of the operation of the Counselling Centre.
Interested women can contact the Corfu Counselling Centre:
Address: Eth. Paleokastritsa Rd 7, 49100 Corfu
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am- 4:00pm
Photo: pixabay
