The second phase of the digital campaign “Don’t Skip” was implemented by the Diotima Center (18/3-19/4) with the kind support of Papastratos company.

Gender-based violence invisible-visible

Gender-based violence is the most extreme manifestation of historically established gender inequality. It is a daily, global phenomenon. Nevertheless, many people in our country believe that this is a phenomenon that concerns earlier times.

Trying to transform these perceptions, but also to make the extent of the phenomenon visible, we chose to present the statistics from the survey conducted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA, 2014) in the campaign. This is the largest polling survey conducted worldwide on violence against women, as it surveyed more than 42,000 women aged 18 to 74.

The statistics are shocking: 1 in 3 women in the EU have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 or older; 1 in 2 have experienced psychological violence from their partner; 1 in 10 have experienced sexual violence; 1 in 8 have experienced financial violence by her partner (FRA, 2014). Every six hours, 6 women are murdered worldwide by their partners (UNODC 2017).

These figures are indicative, as a large number of women do not report the violence they experience. According to the same research, only 1 in 3 victims of partner violence and 1 in 4 victims of non-partner violence report the most recent serious incident to the authorities.

Furthermore, states lack comprehensive and comparative data on the extent and nature of the phenomenon. From the above, it becomes clear that gender-based violence is an “invisible” phenomenon.

Learn to recognize it

The category of gender-based violence, according to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993), includes both acts that cause physical, sexual, or mental trauma, as well as threats of such acts, which lead to coercion and deprivation of liberty of the individual.

These acts can occur in both the private and public spheres, in a family, friendly, or work environment. Women and young girls, as well as LGBTI+ people, are overwhelmingly victims of gender-based violence.

Physical violence, psychological and emotional abuse, verbal violence, and deprivation of financial resources and opportunities are just some of the forms of gender-based violence that we have tried to capture in this campaign.

In this context, we published a glossary with internationally recognized definitions, so that you can recognize it wherever you meet it. After all, we believe that knowledge and information are the first steps in raising awareness against an everyday, global phenomenon.

Don’t skip

The social environment often skips incidents of gender-based violence. One of the dominant stereotypes wants the victims and not the perpetrators to be responsible for it. This is how a collective culture of acceptance of it is formed, despite the fact that it is a criminal offense.

It is indicative that several women who contact our Center report that when they asked for help from their family, friends, etc., or even from government services (e.g. police), they were met with caution, lack of understanding, and discouragement. This trend is also reflected in the majority of research.

Many times, the (friendly, family) surrounding, even though they see, hear, know, and suspect that a woman is suffering from domestic violence, refuse to get involved, considering that it is a “private matter”.

This has the result: on the one hand, the perpetrators reproduce, with impunity, violent and abusive behaviors, on the other hand, women are not encouraged to report the incidents and remain in abusive relationships, fearing – in addition to the perpetrator’s reprisals – social stigmatization, the social isolation, the lack of safe options for themselves and their children.

The “Don’t Skip” campaign seeks to raise awareness among society, especially young people so that we do not overlook the daily incidents of gender-based violence and sexism, and collectively shape a culture of zero tolerance. After all, for a timely and effective response to gender-based violence, the contribution of all of us is necessary.