National Programme for Substantive Gender Equality 2010-2013 MIDTERM PROGRESS REPORT NOVEMBER 2009 – JUNE 2012 HELLENIC REPUBLIC GENERAL SECRETARIAT MINISTRY OF INTERIOR FOR GENDER EQUALITY National Programme for Substantive Gender Equality 2010-2013 MIDTERM PROGRESS REPORT NOVEMBER 2009 – JUNE 2012 JUNE 2012 HELLENIC REPUBLIC GENERAL SECRETARIAT MINISTRY OF INTERIOR FOR GENDER EQUALITY General Secretariat for Gender Equality (GSGE) 8 Dragatsaniou Str., 105 59 Athens, T. +30 213 1511102-103 • F. +30 210 3315 276 e-mail: [email protected] www.isotita.gr Drafting, Translation and Editing: Nafsika Moschovakou, Eugenia Moukanou, Matina Papagiannopoulou, Emmanouella Stamiri Design: Α4_artdesign CONTENTS FOREWORD . 9 INTRODUCTION . .11 FIRST PILLAR IMPROVING AND ENFORCING LEGISLATION . .13 1. Legislative Work . .13 1.1 Tax Law . .13 1.2 Local Governance and Decentralized Administration . .13 1.2.1 Gender Equality in the Regions . .13 1.2.2 Gender Equality in the Municipalities . .14 1.3 Human Trafficking . .14 1.4 Equal Treatment for Men and Women in Employment and Occupation . .15 1.5 Residence Permits for Victims of Violence . .15 1.6 Removal of the Obligation of Victims of Domestic Violence to Pay the Fee for a Lawsuit . .16 1.7 Parental Leave in the Public and Private Sector . .16 2. Drafting Bills on Gender Equality Issues . .17 2.1 Legislative Drafting Committee to amend the provisions of Family Law . .17 2.2 Legislative Drafting Committee to process a draft bill to combat violence against women . .17 2.3 Legislative Drafting Committee for the preparation of a draft bill on substantive gender equality . .17 3. Collecting and Processing Legislation and Jurisprudence in the Field of Gender Equality . .18 4. The Legal Advice Department . .18 5. Proposals to Ministries on Specific Issues of Gender Equality . 19 SECOND PILLAR SPECIFIC POLICIES FOR GENDER EQUALITY . 20 Α. PRIORITY THEMATIC AREAS . 21 1. Violence against Women . 21 1.1 Nation-wide Interventions to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women . 21 1.1.1 Scientific Committee . 21 1.1.2 Educational Material . 21 1.1.3 SOS Telephone Helpline 15900 . 22 1.1.4 Public Information and Community Sensitization . 23 1.1.5 Staff Training . 23 1.1.6 Microsite on Violence against Women . 23 1.2 GSGE’s Actions to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women . 23 1.2.1 Creating new Counselling Centres . .24 1.2.2 Recruitment of the Counselling Centres’ Staff . .25 1.2.3 Collaborating with Bar Associations . .25 1.3 Developing new Support Structures and Services in Local Communities for the Tackling of Violence against Women . .25 1.3.1 Creating new Municipal Shelters . .25 1.3.2 Creation new Municipal Counselling Centres . .26 1.4 Other Activities for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women . .26 2. Multiple Discrimination . ..