Diotima, our member in Athens

Diotima Centre is a non-profit, non-governmental women’s organisation, initiated in 1989. Until today, it has implemented numerous projects and activities, financed by European and national funds. It carries 5 complementary identities as 1) a research centre in gender and equality issues, 2) a counselling and supportive service for Gender Based Violence Survivors (GBV), 3) a training agency of professionals for the recognition and holistic treatment of GBV, 4) a Women’s NGO empowering and advocating for women, while questioning prevalent male-centered approaches, as well as lobbying for transparency and accountability, and contributing in keeping an open dialogue among many different political and social subjects, and 5) an agency implementing campaigns for the information and sensitisation on GBV issues in the framework of prevention.

One of the main actions of Diotima Centre is supporting refugee GBV Survivors residing in the urban site of Athens, Thessaloniki, Lesvos and Samos, by a team of specialised professionals (social workers, psychologists, translators/cultural intermediators, lawyers). Although it does not run a dedicated program to ending FGM, the teams support women that have been subjected to it. However, it is worth mentioning that only a small number of women mention they have been subjected to the practice and all the gynaecological, psychological and sexual problems this has caused them. Instead, they have to be specifically asked and advised to refer it to the asylum service as an important evidence of vulnerability that may help their asylum case.