November, 2024
Event Details
When: Monday, November 25 | 10:00- 18:00
Where: ACG Events Hall & Main Corridor (NGOs)
Organized by:
The Department of Psychology and the Sociology Program of the Department of Social Sciences, Deree-The American College of Greece
In collaboration with:
NGOs specializing in gender-based violence:
W.I.N. Hellas
DYNAME
DIOTIMA
SAFE SOCIETY
STRONG ME
Supported by:
The ACG Counselling Center
Sociology Society
Psychology Society
Volunteer Club
About the Event
Violence against women is a global issue that transcends borders, cultures, and societies, affecting millions of women and girls every day. From domestic or intimate partner abuse to sexual and psychological violence to systemic inequality, these harmful practices have lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. Beyond exploring the physical and psychological impact on the victims and the systemic barriers that hinder reporting, this special event organized on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women aims to raise awareness and familiarize the audience about effective prevention and intervention strategies.
The event will feature two panels with leading experts in gender studies, human rights, law, and social policy, as well as survivors of violence. The speakers will delve into the dynamics that perpetuate the victimization of women and will focus on key themes such as education and prevention, legal reforms, support systems for survivors, and the role of technology in combating gender-based violence. The panels will be followed by interactive informative sessions encouraging active participation and a powerful film screening with a follow-up discussion.
Representatives of grass-roots organizations who work tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of women and girls are also invited to present and share their work in the main corridor.
Open to all, this day aims to inspire dialogue and promote collective efforts and exchange of ideas to drive real change that can put an end to violence against women.
The event is free and open to all interested.
A certificate of attendance will be issued to those who attend at least 3 sessions.
Program
9:30 – 10:00 | Arrival of Guests and Registration
10:00 – 10:15 | Opening Remarks
Dr. P. Vlachopoulos, Vice President Academic Affairs, ACG
Dr. H. Maragou, Dean School of Arts & Sciences, ACG
10:15 – 11:45 | First Panel: Gender-Based Violence in Greece
Moderator: Dr. Chryssa Zachou, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences -ACG
Presenters:
Capella Antoinetta – Greek National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)
“EU survey on gender-based violence against women and other forms of interpersonal violence (EU-GBV) in Greece: Key findings” (in Greek)
Dr. Stratigaki, Maria – Deputy Mayor of Social Solidarity & Equality, City of Athens/Professor Emeritus Panteion University
“Equality Policies for Combatting Gender Based Violence”.
Bouri, Georgia – Head to the Department of Equality & Anti-Discrimination Policies of the Municipality of Athens
“City of Athens: Responses to Gender-Based Violence” (in Greek)
Koufonikolakou, Theoni – Greek Deputy Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights- the Greek Ombudsman
“The Challenges of Violence against children in the light of UNCRC: The Children’s Ombudswoman perspective and experience.”
Dr. Kotsaki Marina, – Sociologist, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
“My mum needs help: Children of victims calling the Greek National Helpline 15900”
Q&A session
11:45-12:00 | Coffee Break
12:00 – 13:30 | Second Panel: Gender-Based Violence: Prevention and Intervention Effects
Moderator: Dr. Tinia Apergi – Clinical Psychologist, Associate Professor ACG
Presenters:
Dr. Chara Chiοni-Chotouman – Post Doctoral Researcher Aristotle University of Thessaloniki/ Part-Time Instructor ACG
“Legal Safeguards for women in Greece: Combating domestic abuse and rape”.
Karagiannaki-Michaloglou,Chara DIOTIMA Project Manager / Monitoring and Evaluation, Diotima- Centre for Gender Rights & Equality.
“Gender-Based Violence: Prevention, Treatment & Empowerment as the core of Diotima’s action”
Iliodromiti, Anastasia – Police Officer/Sociologist, Office of the Attica General Police Directorate
“The Management of Domestic Violence Cases by the Hellenic Police”
Tsekeri, Nantina – Human Rights Lawyer/Children Rights Expert, Founder & CEO Defense for Children International, Greece
” Silent Struggles: The Plight of Refugee Women and Girls Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Greece.”
Davaroukas, Vanessa – Social Scientist, Founder & Managing Director Safe Society
“Taking responsibility for oneself and others”
Q&A session
13:30 -14:30 | Lunch Break
14:30-15:30 | Interactive Workshop “I Am Asking for A Friend….”
Examining different forms of violence and understanding the dynamics of victimization through discussion and interactive exercises.
Presenters/Facilitators:
Giouli, Katerina DYNAME, ASPIS AGAINST VIOLENCE
Liafou, Vassiliki W.I.N. Hellas
Dr. Apergi, Tinia, Psychology Department ACG
15:30-15:40 | Break
15:40 – 17:20 | Documentary Screening: “The Hunting Ground” Directed by Kirby Dick, Produced by Amy Ziering, CNN Films(Sausalito, CA: Roco Films, 2015)
17:20 – 18:00 | Discussion on the Documentary and Concluding Remarks
Coordinated by the ACG Counseling Center w/ the participation of NGO representatives
Bios of speaker(s)/ moderator(s)
Georgia Bouri, B.Sc., M.Sc., ECP
Head to the Department of Equality & Anti-Discrimination Policies, of the Municipality of Athens
Georgia Bouri has been working for almost 38 years as a combative social worker and counselor with a special emphasis on dealing with domestic violence and abuse in all its forms. For the last 10 years, she has been Head to the Department of Equality & Anti-Discrimination Policies of the Municipality of Athens, with subjects such as equality, gender-based violence, the disabled, addictions, LGBTI issues and discrimination. The Department includes:
- the Center for Combating Gender-Based Violence and Multiple Discrimination,
- the Shelter for Women Victims of Violence and their Children and
- the Transitional Accommodation Shelter for Homeless Substance Users.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Panhellenic Union of Person-Centered & Experiential Approach Professions. She is a member of the academic staff of the ICPS College of Humanistic Sciences.
Bios of the speaker(s)/moderator(s)
Antoinetta Capella
Researcher, Institute of Social Research of the Greek National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)
Antoinetta Capella is a Researcher (Applied Research Scientist) at the Institute of Social Research of the Greek National Centre for Social Research (EKKE). She specialises in sociology and holds a Master’s degree in Sociology of Education (Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies – DEA) from the University Marc Bloch – Strasbourg II (France). With extensive experience in leading and conducting interdisciplinary research projects, her research currently focuses on social policy and social exclusion, with particular emphasis on social inclusion policies for vulnerable groups and gender equality. Since 2020, she has been the national coordinator for Greece in the European Social Policy Analysis Network (ESPAN).
Vanessa Davaroukas, Founder and Managing Director of Safe Society
Social Scientist, Founder & Managing Director Safe Society
Vanessa Davaroukas is a Social Scientist, trauma expert and advocate dedicated to creating pathways toward lives free from violence. As the founder of the Safe Society, Vanessa has made it her mission to establish safe spaces for individuals to reclaim autonomy and choose a life without violence.
With a background spanning multiple countries and sectors, Vanessa has previously worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, the Azadi Project in Greece and Airbnb in Germany. Deeply rooted in research, Vanessa’s work aims to improve social programming and policy through evidence-based practices. Her main interests are the psychology of trauma, resilience, and identity formation, exploring how individuals and communities can heal and thrive after experiencing adversity. In her current role, she collaborates with psychologists, lawyers, policymakers, artists and civil society to address the complex needs of trauma survivors.
Vanessa holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Bologna, and an M.A. in Applied Educational Psychology from the American College of Greece. She is a mother and lives with her family between Switzerland and Greece.
Dr. Chara Chiοni-Chotouman
Post Doctoral Researcher Aristotle University/ ACG Instructor
Chara Chioni-Chotouman holds a PhD in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure. During her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, she was a scholarship recipient from the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Currently, she is a Postdoctoral researcher at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and part-time faculty at The American College of Greece’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She has extensive experience working with GBV victims providing legal advice and representation. She has recently published a monograph on rape law in Greece, contributed chapters to volumes on criminal law and GBV, and authored various articles in English and Greek. She frequently delivers lectures and participates in educational programs in Greece and internationally.
Anastasia Iliodromiti
Police Officer/Sociologist, Office of the Attica General Police Directorate
She is a Police Officer and Sociologist. Graduated from the Police Academy in 2019 and from the Sociology Department of Panteion University in 2024. From 2021 to 2023, she served in the Operational Domestic Violence Response Office of the Alimos Police Department as a Duty Officer in active service. Since October 2023, she has been serving in the Strategic Domestic Violence Response Office of the Attica General Police Directorate, overseeing all domestic violence incidents and offices within Attica.
“The management of domestic violence cases by the Hellenic Police”
Chara Karagiannaki-Michaloglou
DIOTIMA Project Manager / Monitoring and Evaluation, Diotima- Centre for Gender Rights & Equality
Chara Karagiannaki-Michaloglou is a Project Manager at Diotima Centre. She is a social scientist with many years of work experience in human rights organizations and cultural entities. Some of her main areas of expertise in project management, coordination and implementation have been the support and empowerment of gender-based violence survivors, community building and the creation & dissemination of educational programs with an interdisciplinary approach. Activism and action for change, awareness-raising and advocacy regarding human rights have been key themes in her practice. Academically and research-wise she has engaged with gender studies, women’s history, social movements and refugees, while participating in oral history projects.
Theoni Koufonikolakou
Greek Deputy Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights- The Greek Ombudsman
Theoni Koufonikolakou is the Greek Deputy Ombudswoman for children’s rights in the Greek Ombudsman and a former Chair of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC). She is an attorney at law and holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and Sociology. As an Ombudsperson she upheld especially the right of children to participate in decision-making and has intervened to promote an integrated child protection system in Greece. Furthermore, she has highlighted violations of the Rights of Children on the Move as well as of vulnerable children living at risk of poverty and social exclusion. She has published several articles on the interpretation of the UNCRC, democratic education and child protection.As an attorney at law, she has specialised in human rights protection and domestic violence. She has cooperated with NGOs providing legal aid to vulnerable populations. In addition, she has worked with the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) as a researcher and instructor in adult education, and the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) in family protection cases. She has also worked on budgeting and legislative processes as the chief of staff for the Greek alternate Minister of Finance (2015-2018).
Dr. Marina Kotsaki
Sociologist, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
Marina Kotsaki is a Sociologist (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences), with postgraduate degrees in Sociology and Psychology, (both from National & Kapodistrian University of Athens). Her PhD thesis is based on field research on family violence. She specializes in family and couple psychotherapy (1st Psychiatric Clinic, Athens University Hospital) and works at the SOS 15900 Helpline for abused women, of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs.
Dr. Maria Stratigaki
Professor Emerita of Social Policy Panteion University / Deputy Mayor of Social Solidarity & Equality, City of Athens
Maria Stratigaki is Professor Emerita at Panteion University. Her research interests are gender equality policies and gender-based violence. She is Deputy Mayor for Social Solidarity and Equality in the City of Athens. She served as General Secretary for Gender Equality (2009-2012) and worked at the European Commission (1991-1999).
Nantina Tsekeri
Human Rights Lawyer/Children Rights Expert, Founder & CEO Defense for Children International, Greece
Nantina Tsekeri is a human rights lawyer and child rights expert. She is an advocate for children’s rights before EU Institutions and the United Nations . Her specialization is on International Child Rights and Refugee Law. She is the founder and CEO of the NGO Defence for Children International (DCI) in Greece. Nantina is also the Vice President of the EU Child Friendly Justice Network based in Brussels. In 2020, she was one of the ten individuals who received the prestigious Child10 Award for her distinguished work with the refugee children. She holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from Utrecht University and she is has completed three years of academic research in Glasgow University.