Child abuse: What is changing in Greece – What is the “Underwear Rule”

Experts and authorities have for years argued that the key to dealing with cases of child abuse is to “open the mouths of society”, which often remains silent even when it knows or suspects for a number of reasons. The protection mechanisms exist even if they need improvements but it is necessary to notify the competent authorities in order to activate these mechanisms.

About a year ago, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a five-year National Action Plan for the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation at a special event of the Parliament for the European day for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Mr. Mitsotakis spoke of a national priority and emphasized that its basic condition is zero tolerance for sexual violence against children.

Speaking to the Athens Agency, the MP of New Democracy and head of the National Action Plan, Elena Rapti, explains what the next steps are to strengthen child protection and at the same time refers to the famous “Underwear Rule” that all parents should teach their children.

The National Action Plan for the Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

The cabinet approved it on Tuesday 30/08/2022 after it was presented by the Minister of State, Akis Schertsos. As Elena Rapti states to the Athens Agency, “this is a holistic intervention in the existing framework of structures and operations to prevent the phenomenon, promote its disclosure when it occurs, the fast and effective prosecution of the perpetrators and the provision of protection and support to the victims ». In other words, it is “a collective project of 12 ministries under the coordination of the Presidency of the Government. A multifaceted plan with 11 horizontal policies and 80 individual actions. 75% of the actions have already been included in the annual action plans of the ministries and several of them are already being implemented”.

Very soon, a complete proposal of a complete and coherent National Action Plan drawn up by a preparatory working group under the Minister of State responsible for the coordination of government work will be put up for public consultation. In the public consultation, stakeholders, organizations, professionals and citizens will be invited to submit their proposals and observations.

At the same time, at a time to be set by the Hellenic Parliament, the proposed National Action Plan will be submitted for discussion by the national delegation in a committee or composition that will allow the maximum possible participation of parliamentarians. Observations and improvements arising from all consultation actions, which it will be possible to include, will enrich the NAP before its finalisation. The total duration of its implementation will be 5 years (2022-2027).

Elena Rapti emphasizes that “the strategic objectives of the Plan over a period of five years are the readjustment of institutional functions in the direction of child-friendly procedures, the measurable quantitative reduction of cases by creating a holistic framework that will emphasize prevention, deterrence of secondary victimization and the protection of members of vulnerable social groups and finally, the increase in the reporting of cases to the competent authorities and services in order to investigate, prosecute the perpetrators and protect children”.

On the part of the Ministry of Labour, one of the ministries involved, in the time that has passed since then, two crucial steps have been taken. With Law 4837/2021, the definition of child abuse was established in Greece, which, unlike in the past, does not only include physical, sexual and verbal, but also psychological and neglect. In parallel with the same law, the white criminal record was also established for anyone working in a structure that cares for children and at the same time a child protection officer was appointed within each structure – a reference person, that is, for the timely notification of incidents of abuse to the competent authorities.

Existing structures and processes

In a first stage, the social services of the municipalities are responsible. That is, if a complaint is made, the social service must send a social worker to investigate the situation on the spot in order to find out if the complaint is true and what exactly is happening.

At the same time, the complaint can be made to the Child Protection Line 1107 or to the police authorities who will investigate.

In any case, however, the municipality’s social services contact the police if deemed necessary, i.e. if the information is indeed correct.

Afterwards, it is examined by the competent services whether the child’s environment is suitable for him to remain there or whether he should be removed. If it is determined that his removal is necessary, it is considered whether it is safe for him to stay with a close relative.

If it is not possible for the child to remain in his family environment, and after a thorough examination of his state of health, then he is transferred to a state accommodation structure depending on his age, his sex, the circumstances and the particular circumstances of the case, for for example if there are siblings already in a hosting structure, as it is always preferable for two siblings to be together unless it is not in the best interests of the children.

Line 1107

The telephone line “1107” operates 24 hours a day for free and they can call for free:

Children and teenagers who want to be informed about issues that concern or interest them or need help for difficulties of a psychological or social nature or are victims of abuse, neglect, bullying, abandonment, etc. or victims of trafficking, exploitation and illegal or criminal acts. Also, minors who have been involved in delinquent acts, teenagers who run away from home, parents/guardians, siblings or relatives can call for issues related to their role in issues related to minors, teachers for issues related to their students, professionals health, welfare, etc., for matters concerning child protection, providers of social care and protection services for minors, prosecutorial, judicial and police authorities for the protection of children in danger, social agencies for informing them about child protection issues and of course citizens who want to report incidents and situations involving children at risk or wish to voluntarily contribute to their social support.

Through this line, special social workers and psychologists provide urgent counseling, psychological and social support to minors, inform them about issues that concern or interest them and connect them, when required, with the appropriate specialized Child Protection Services. At the same time, they provide urgent counseling, psychological and social support to parents and inform them about parenting issues.

They also receive requests and reports for minors who are in danger, facing crisis situations or involved in illegal acts and cooperate with the competent prosecutorial, judicial, police and other services for the immediate social protection of children and adolescents at risk and juvenile offenders.

In addition, they work closely with Juvenile Protection Teams and other public bodies at regional and local level to conduct social investigations, investigate living conditions and identify risks that threaten minors for whom there have been requests, reports and prosecution orders and mobilize the on-site emergency social intervention mechanisms of EKKA and other services to provide immediate social assistance to minors at risk

Finally, they collaborate with public and private child protection agencies to immediately serve urgent requests for social care and protection of minors and support for their families and provide information, information and support to professionals who deal with children and teenagers.

What the data shows about child sexual abuse cases in Europe

As Ms. Rapti tells the Athens Agency, “it is estimated that one in five children in Europe is a victim of some form of sexual abuse. The rates are particularly high with incalculable physical and psychological effects on child victims. It can happen to any child regardless of gender, age, race, social class or religion. The rate in Greece, according to a relatively recent survey conducted by the Children’s Health Institute, amounts to 16%”. Elena Rapti also says that according to the data: “Nine out of ten abusers are in the child’s close family, relatives or friends, in his circle of trust. That is, it is a person that the child usually loves and trusts and cannot suspect that this person has the goal of harming him, as a result of which he is receptive to touching that he should not. Due to the intimacy of the child’s relationship with the perpetrator, the child does not find the strength to break his silence and only 2 out of 100 cases reach the authorities. This can be overcome through informing and empowering children.”

What is the ‘Underwear Rule’ and the ‘One in Five’ campaign

The Underwear Rule was created to help parents and guardians start the conversation with their children and is a highly effective sexual abuse prevention tool.

“It is a simple means for parents to explain to their children which parts of the body others should not attempt to touch, how children should react and where to turn for help. But what does the Underwear Rule say? it’s simple: no one can touch or caress the child in those parts of his body that are normally covered by underwear. And accordingly, even children are not allowed to touch the body of others in these places. The Rule is also useful because it helps to explain to children that their bodies belong to them, the difference between a gift and a bribe, that there are good and bad secrets, and that there is good and bad petting or touching,” explains Ms. Rapti. .

The training program entitled “The Underwear Rule” enables teachers to teach the tools of the “One in Five” campaign to students in Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades.

At the same time, in the context of the skills workshops, it is possible to teach children all the important messages to protect them from sexual abuse and exploitation, learning and reproducing in their behavior the simple rules of self-protection.

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