In a homophobic attack, two LGBTI people found refuge in a restaurant, while a few years ago, a waitress in an Athens cafe saved an abused woman
Fifty shops – from cafes to petrol stations – will be marked with a prominent sticker as ‘refuges’ for people in danger, to act as safe spaces for victims of gender-based violence until they receive support from relevant agencies.
This is an initiative of Iridas – Women’s Center, a non-profit organization based in Thessaloniki, which was deemed necessary after the homophobic attack, last March, in Aristotelous Square, on two people from the LGBTI community, who found refuge in a restaurant while a few years ago, a waitress in an Athens cafe saved an abused woman.
As the founder of Irida, Chloe Koussula, explained, the creation of the Network of Local Businesses as Safe Points is part of the #SheChangeSpeak campaign, which was presented yesterday in Thessaloniki.
“We will cooperate with 50 businesses from the area of ​​Thessaloniki – cafes, restaurants, pharmacies, gas stations, mini marketsand our psychologists will train their staff to offer them first aid and support to people in danger. The 50 local businesses that will participate in the network will be marked with a sticker that will be designed as part of the campaign to be recognizable and a person in danger will see that it is a safe place to enter and ask for help.”
The actions of the campaign also include the support of 300 survivors and potential victims of gender-based violence, with personalized protection and legal representation services as well as access to temporary accommodation.
An additional goal is to raise public awareness through a targeted campaign with 10 photos of women from Thessaloniki, who raise their voices against gender-based violence.
Greetings at yesterday’s event were addressed – among others – by the mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis, who wished that November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, would not be mentioned as an anniversary day in the future, while Maria Olson (Maria Olson), chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in Athens, emphasized that the work carried out daily by organizations saves lives and when survivors share their stories, it has a multiplier effect for other women to speak up.
Source: Skai
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