Protests follow a femicide in Athens, highlighting systemic failures in Greek police response to domestic violence and women’s safety.
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Protests occurred outside the courthouse in Athens following the murder of Kyriaki Griva, who was fatally stabbed by her ex-partner after seeking help from the police. Griva’s family lawyer criticized the police for failing to assess the risks she faced, citing a lack of adequate training and indifference. Although the Ministry of Citizen Protection has implemented changes, such as dedicated domestic violence offices and updated incident management guides, these measures did not prevent Griva’s death, which highlighted systemic failures. The incident revealed that despite Griva taking steps to protect herself, the police response was inadequate, and the crime of domestic violence was not prosecuted ex officio. While police have since introduced new safety measures, experts and advocates argue that institutional failures persist, pointing to issues like the lack of interpreters and difficulties in securing safe long-term accommodation for victims. Following the murder, the trial of the ex-partner resumed, and disciplinary actions were taken against some police officers, though Griva’s family lawyer deemed these punishments insufficient, calling for deeper institutional reform to better protect women.
