A disastrous consequence of gender violence, not a bolt from the blue.
The three tragic femicides that took place within 48 hours,
only days apart from the two savage matricides in Neapolis, Thessaloniki and Heraklion, Crete
(a 79-year-old woman and a 67-year-old woman by their sons),
bringing the number of murdered women to thirteen,
demonstrate once again the great dimensions and unacceptable consequences of gender violence in Greece as well.
They also show that gender-based violence in all its forms
(physical abuse, sexual violence, psychological abuse, sexual harassment, economic violence and deprivation of resources, rape, etc.),
is a continuum, the extreme form of which is femicide.
The patriarchal and sexist background of family/partner relationships is the main – though not the only – ground
on the intensification of gender-based violence, which occurs and unfolds on a daily and systematic basis,
undermining women’s freedom and self-determination
(partners, husbands, wives, mothers, daughters, workers, students, etc.)
and their right to a life of dignity.
Is the institutional framework enough?
Despite the existence of an adequate legal framework for dealing with domestic/ gender-based violence
(which however does not recognise femicide as a distinct offence), the major mobilisations in the context of
feminist protests, and the #MeToo movement, the multiple pressures for actions in support of women,
who suffer gender-based abuse, gender-based violence that results in murder does not seem to be controlled or reduced.
And here too, we must ask ourselves about the durability of deeply entrenched patriarchal power relations and the
of male concepts, according to which women, as subordinates of men, remain subject to “correction”
and “punishment”, through control and all forms of gender violence.
We should also ask ourselves about the visible or invisible mechanisms (institutional, political, social/cultural)
which act as a catalyst in perpetuating or exacerbating the phenomenon.
How, for example, secondary victimisation of epizootics is caused by inadequate response,
apathy on the part of the competent police and judicial authorities or discouraging women from taking further action.
And how victims are targeted or even stigmatised through the undermining of their speech and testimonies
and victim blaming for what they experience, while at the same time many excuses for the perpetrators are invented.
(abusers/rapists/rapists/women killers), from a system that seems to flagrantly ignore the principle of zero tolerance
against gender-based violence.
Features and questions.
If we look at the special features
of the recent femicides of 56-year-old Georgia from Rethymno,
of 41-year-old Eleonora from Zakynthos and
of 17-year-old Nikoleta from Peristeri,
as well as the two (unnamed) women murdered by their sons,
we find that they testify to what has been eloquently described by women’s and feminist collectives for years
and raise questions such as:
– If and how to support a woman seeking her release from an abusive relationship,
so how does the coordinated state act and how do we act collectively to prevent and protect victims of gender-based violence?
- -If the close and wider environment is helpful in this direction or, on the contrary, discouraging or stigmatising
those who dare to speak out and denounce.
- -Whether the authorities respond adequately and effectively to complaints from women who are subsequently murdered by husbands, partners or other relatives.
It is infuriating that the woman murdered in Zakynthos,
was murdered by her husband after she had twice filed a complaint against the alleged perpetrator.
-Causes anger the ministerial finding of a complex case to justify inaction and obstacles
identified in the chain of services to support and protect women from gender-based violence.
-If it is not enough to emphasise the number of women murdered and the use of the term femicide
by the media when the recording and critical presentation of everyday life is almost completely absent,
chronic and systemic gender-based violence suffered by women in their private, intimate/marital relationships,
at work, in public places, in places of education, sport, entertainment, on the internet, etc.
-If the protection and safety of livestock is adequately ensured – the responsibility of the competent bodies and professionals – given that
that personal security is a fundamental right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In this context, it is necessary for the state to propose the following:
-The immediate adoption of measures for the prevention of gender violence and the elimination of sexist, racist, homophobic stereotypes
and extreme neoliberal concepts of sexuality, motherhood, companionship and gender.
-Open public debate on consent and the non-negotiable right of women and femininities to a life free of violence.
-The legal recognition of femicide, which will first of all contribute to highlighting the grim social reality
and the sexist motives of this same-sex crime, and secondly, in understanding the dual/plural dimension
femicide, which is both an extreme criminal act and an extreme lethal form of gender-based violence.
The legal recognition of femicide is one of the ways to make the phenomenon visible in order to highlight the social and political significance of the phenomenon.
its gender dimension and to stress that it is a crime committed on the basis of gender discrimination and unequal power relations, elements that cannot be covered by the Criminal Code today.
The Diotima Centre, contrary to the Minister of Justice, considers that the introduction of the term femicide in the Criminal Code,
would not constitutionally and morally lead to a “relativization” of human life.
The standardization of femicide does not introduce unconstitutional gender-based discrimination since not all homicides are considered homicides
with women and feminine victims and male perpetrators as femicides.
The Diotima Centre is also opposed to far-right and neo-conservative approaches promoted by
penal feminism (carceral feminism) and alt right concepts,
seeking stricter penalties and stricter social control.
Together with feminist organizations and collectives we are demanding the emergence and understanding of the causes that can
lead to a femicide, considering it the extreme end of the continuum of gender violence.
Below the Diotima Centre lists further measures at institutional level.
At the same time, being aware that legislation alone is not enough to overturn and eliminate sexist stereotypes
and gender inequalities, we believe that at the institutional level it is also necessary:
-To increase and strengthen existing public support structures for survivors of gender-based violence
(counselling centres and shelters of the GSIF, KETHI and OTAs) with human and financial resources,
-To increase and make permanent the staff that staffs the above structures
and to ensure the continued operation of the network of structures.
-To ensure the immediate response of law enforcement and judicial authorities with a view and concern for safety and protection of life
victims and their children and the administration of justice, given that under the current legislation,
provides for the ex officio prosecution of criminal acts falling within the scope of L. 3500/2006 and in N. 4531/2018.
Finally, as highlighted by international organisations (e.g. UN, Council of Europe, etc.)
it is appropriate and necessary for the State to strengthen and cooperate closely with women’s/feminist NGOs
who systematically support survivors of gender-based violence by giving practical support to their work.
