POLITICAL ISSUE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Anna Karamanou
former MEP

Published in the newspaper “THEMA,” April 3, 2005

We are talking about the most silenced crime in the world, which is committed behind closed doors, within the four walls of the home, usually without eyewitnesses. The UN claims that male violence causes more deaths among women than cancer. Feminist analyses speak of a global crisis. Yet official policy treats the issue as a private matter, which does not concern the state and the rule of law. Thus, recently, the parliamentary committee on human rights did not deem it worthwhile to seriously address the allegations made by the director of the Shelter for Abused Women, that violence against women is endemic in our country and concerns not only the lower educational strata, but also circles of the highest levels and public office. For those in the know, of course, what lawyer Mrs. Irini Dorkofiki presented to the Committee of the House, whose significant work is recognized by all, was well known. That is, even among the representatives of the nation, some carry power games and imposition from the public sphere to the private, obviously to affirm the superiority of the male gender over the female… Moreover, according to our patriarchal culture, a man’s honor largely depends on his ability to use violence, hence the word “manliness” is associated with bravery, courage in war, and the use of violence.

However, these issues in Greece have never been the subject of a serious and sober public dialogue, in order to find new balances in the relationships between the two genders, as required by the socioeconomic changes that have occurred with the recognition of women’s rights and gender equality. On the contrary, the relevant authorities and particularly the political parties have followed the tactic of cover-up and “do not touch the wrongdoings.” The campaign of the General Secretariat for Equality, five years ago, with the central slogan “break the silence,” found very few willing recipients because usually domestic violence is kept as a tightly sealed secret, since social respectability demands “what is in the home, should not be in public” and “do not tell even the priest.”

It was therefore expected that the political vacuum would eventually be filled and that the issue would be highlighted through journalistic investigation, of course not in the most orthodox way. However, the forced resignation of Ms. Dorkofiki from the Archdiocese was also unorthodox, as it rushed to appease spirits and align itself with those who considered themselves aggrieved. However, the most serious of all is that an effort is being made to create an atmosphere of intimidation against women who dare to denounce their macho partners. Nevertheless, the old good slogan of the women’s movement, “THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL” remains always relevant. As does the message “BREAK THE SILENCE!!”.