Greece faces systemic failures in protecting women from femicide

Recent femicides in Greece, including the murder of a 25-year-old biologist in Igoumenitsa, have highlighted systemic failures within the nation's security forces and protection mechanisms for women.

Critics point to a structural inability of the Hellenic Police to protect citizens, noting that regional police stations are often understaffed and officers lack sufficient training to assess risks. While the Ministry of Citizen Protection has distributed over 5,000 digital panic buttons, the implementation remains heavily concentrated in Athens and Thessaloniki. Despite an expansion of the measure to the entire country in May 2024, access in rural areas remains limited due to staffing shortages and lack of information.

Sociologically, these crimes are framed as an extreme manifestation of power and control rather than isolated incidents. While criminal law often treats these acts as general homicide, experts emphasize that the motive is gender-based. To support victims, the General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights maintains a 24-hour SOS helpline (15900) to address physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal abuse.