On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the 6th online meeting of the Network for Combating Gender-Based Violence was held. The network was established in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace as part of the project “TIME TO TALK II” by the Ladies’ Union of Drama – HOH
The keynote speaker was Ms. Vasiliki Karzi, a lawyer and legal researcher specializing in human rights and an external collaborator of the Center for European Constitutional Law on issues of racism, discrimination, and fundamental rights.
Ms. Karzi provided a detailed overview of the national and European legal frameworks for addressing domestic and gender-based violence, focusing both on developments in recent years and on the challenges that remain regarding the effective implementation of the legislation. Particular emphasis was placed on victims’ rights, their access to support services and justice, as well as the need to avoid secondary victimization. At the same time, the importance of utilizing technological tools during the testimony process was highlighted, the need to strengthen support and compensation mechanisms for victims within the criminal justice process, as well as the special care required for vulnerable social groups, such as refugee women, migrant women, and Roma women. During the meeting, representatives of the organizations shared their experiences and practical issues regarding the implementation of the legislation were discussed, while the importance of cooperation between local structures and services was emphasized, as well as the need to strengthen prevention and victim protection measures. A discussion followed, during which Network members highlighted issues arising from daily practice and underscored the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation between services and organizations.
The project “DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIONS TO PREVENT AND COMBAT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE TIME TO TALK II” with code OPS 6018151, implemented by the Ladies’ Union of Drama -HOH, is being implemented within the framework of the “Eastern Macedonia Thrace 2021-2027” Program and the priority “Social Inclusion and Combating Poverty (EKT+)”. The project is co-financed by the European Social Fund. The project is part of the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy of the Municipality of Drama.