November 25th: International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

(Corfu Counselling Centre) November 25th has been declared by the UN as "International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women", aiming to highlight the significant dimensions and extent of the phenomenon. Gender-based violence is a daily, social and global issue, with women and girls disproportionately affected in the overwhelming majority of cases. It is a severe violation of the core of human rights, manifesting in both the private and public spheres, and it stands as an obstacle to progress toward gender equality, development, and peace.

The term "violence against women" refers to any act of violence based on gender that results in or may result in physical, sexua, or psychological harm and/or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in the public or private sphere. Gender-based violence manifests in various forms of abuse (e.g., physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, economic) and types (e.g., domestic violence, spousal/partner violence, rape, sexual harassment, online gender-based violence, trafficking, etc.).

Raising awareness in local communities about women's right to live a life free from violence contributes to the prevention and combat of this heinous phenomenon against women.

On the occasion of November 25th, the Corfu Counselling Centre is organising a series of local activities to inform and raise awareness among the public:

• On Tuesday, 19/11, the staff of the Counselling Centre will visit the Kastellani High School in Central Corfu to raise awareness/inform the 3rd-year pupils on issues related to gender equality, gender-based violence and multiple discriminations against women.
• On Wednesday, 20/11 and Friday, 22/11 (10:00-13:00), at central locations in South and North Corfu, respectively, the staff will carry out awareness-raising activities on gender-based violence and multiple discriminations against women, as well as inform the public about the free services provided by the Corfu Counselling Centre.
• On Monday, 25/11 (10:00-12:00), the Corfu Counselling Centre, Central Corfu Municipal Women's Shelter, the Department of Domestic Violence Intervention of the Corfu Police Directorate, and Central Corfu Municipal Community Centre (with a Roma branch) will co-organise a public awareness campaign with the distribution of informational materials at a central location in Corfu Town.

The General Secretariat for Gender Equality and Human Rights has taken the lead in the fight against violence against women and has ensured the seamless operation of the Nationwide Network of Supportive Facilities (under the scientific supervision of the Centre for Research on Gender Issues/KETHI), which includes the 24-hour SOS Helpline 15900, 44 Counselling Centres, 18 Municipal Women's Shelters, and 2 National Center for Social Solidarity Shelters. Thousands of women have sought help from these facilities.

At the local level, the Corfu Counselling Centre is part of the above National Network of Supportive Facilities, providing FREE services for information and awareness on gender equality, violence against women, and multiple discriminations, as well as social, psychological, employment and legal support. It caters to women who have experienced or are experiencing any form of violence and/or multiple discriminations (e.g., unemployed, single mothers, Roma, immigrants, etc.). Finally, the staff of the Corfu Counselling Centre informs and provides the Panic Button app to women victims of domestic violence.

Photo: pixabay