The Shelter is housed in a building provided by the General Secretariat for Gender Equality which has been ceded by the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corporation.

 

The Shelter's address, telephone numbers and information on the women who stay there remain confidential.

 

The Shelter for Abused Women has been operating since 1993 and assists all women who have suffered abuse, be they Greek or foreign and regardless of relationship status (within or outside marriage). Women may stay at the shelter together with their children (boys aged up to 14 are accepted). Women seeking to stay at the Shelter should contact the City of Athens Social Welfare Department's Office for Equality.

 

Women who stay at the Shelter are referred to the service by the City of Athens Office for Equality, the General Secretariat for Gender Equality Reception Office and other social services and agencies, on their own initiative. Local social services, police stations, hospitals, churches and related services have been informed of the Shelter's existence.

 

The average length of stay, based on operating regulations, ranges from 20 days to one month following a personal interview conducted by the social service and the provision of medical exams.

 

The key problems faced by women who stay at the Shelter and their basic needs can be summarized under the following categories:

• Financial problems
• Unemployment
• Legal support
• Incorrect implementation of the legal framework concerning abuse of women

 

Specialist staff at the Shelter, provide women and children with a safe haven, protection, security, psychological support and social discretion. Additionally, legal advice and information on other Social Services and Agencies which they can contact, depending on the problems they face, is also available.

 

The Shelter aims to offer women the opportunity to seek help concerning the events which resulted in the abusive behaviour, by providing a suitable venue and psychological and social support in order to stabilize or recover their self-confidence. During their stay, they can learn about alternative life choices and experiences, which will prove useful whether they return to their home or decide to live apart from the man who is responsible for the abuse.

 

Beyond the immediate assistance it provides to abused women, the Shelter strives to promote abuse prevention by publicizing the problem and raising awareness among the general population, as well as preventing critical situations which may have grave consequences for the women, the men who abuse them and their children.