"Τogether to end violence against children"
The joint programme of Lidl Hellas and UNICEF aims to tackle violence against children and gender-based violence in Greece through a series of actions.
- Ελληνικά
- English
The protection of children from exploitation, abuse and neglect remains a multifaceted and complex issue in Greece. Greece is one of the few European countries that lacks specialized child protection services, both at a central and at an operational level. The policies and the existing institutional framework governing child protection, the prevention of removal from the family, as well as intervention and care for children are implemented in isolation and in a fragmented manner.
In line with the recent recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (June 2022) and the Special Report of the Ombudsman (August 2020), the fragmentation of relevant legislation on child protection and the need to synthesize and harmonize relevant provisions and legislation, aiming at developing a holistic child protection system are highlighted, among other things.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) office in Greece, within the framework of the five-year operational programme for Greece (2022-2026) and in cooperation with the competent Greek authorities, implements actions and provides technical support and training for the protection and safeguarding of children's rights as defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. An important part of the Agency's work concerns the protection of children from all forms of violence and neglect and the access of children and their families both to social services and to health care, among other things.
Lidl Hellas and UNICEF collaboration
In September 2023, a multidimensional cooperation between Lidl Hellas and UNICEF was launched, aiming to prevent and combat all forms of violence against children in the country. This collaboration covers a wide range of initiatives, supporting among others:
- the mapping of administrative data on violence against children in Greece
- the promotion of the digital application "Play Safe", an educational game on cyberbullying aimed at educating and raising awareness among young people (14+) about harassment and violence online, addressing issues such as consent, healthy interpersonal relationships and personal boundaries
- the implementation of a series of trainings for media professionals on the positive contribution they can make in addressing and highlighting child abuse issues.
Data mapping
In collaboration with the Institute of Child Health - Directorate of Mental Health and Social Welfare, a national study on administrative data in relation to violence against children is being carried out, the results of which will be published at the end of March.
The purpose of this study is:
- Availability and characteristics of administrative data
- Drafting of evidence-based recommendations for their improvement
- Adaptation of a 'Tool for Diagnosing and Evaluating the Maturity of Administrative Data on Violence against Children'.
Promoting the "Play Safe" app
Play Safe is an educational game about gender-based violence online.
The aim of the app is to inform and raise awareness among adolescents (14+) about harassment and violence online. It is also a useful tool for parents, teachers, and any adult who wants to be informed about new forms of gender-based violence and how to support teenagers.
The app is available on Android and iOS in Greek, English and Farsi.
The app was created by Diotima, with the support of UNICEF.
The communicational promotion of the app is supported by Lidl Hellas.
Learn more here.
Trainings for media professionals
News reports of cases of child abuse and neglect play an important role in informing the public and policy makers about the systemic causes of child abuse as well as on ways to promote prevention and effective protection of children and their families.
Recognizing the power of journalism and the positive contribution it can make in addressing and highlighting child abuse issues, we developed training activities for media professionals to support them on child protection issues and strengthen their abilities to adopt a child-centred approach.
In particular, a guide with educational material for Media professionals has been developed, after consultation with journalists, taking into account the framework and needs of the media sector in Greece.
Briefly, the topics include:
- Child Protection in Greece
- the positive role that the media can play and good practices in presenting and publishing cases of child abuse and neglect.
- understanding the consequences for the child, the family and the wider society.
In these training activities the basic principles to be followed in reporting cases involving children will be explained, with the aim of protecting children and avoiding further harm.
Finally, participants together with UNICEF child protection experts will analyze real cases in order to identify good practices and practices to avoid, but also to talk about the need to support professionals as well as the measures they can take to avoid trauma to themselves.