ATHENS — Incidents of abuse like family violence are increasing during the pandemic conditions and no woman should be without help in this ordeal, President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said during her visit on Holy Thursday to the Hostel for Women Victims of Violence of the national centre of social solidarity under the jurisdiction of the Labour Ministry.

Sakellaropoulou was welcomed at the Athens hostel by Deputy Social Solidarity and Welfare Minister Domna Michailidou and the head of the structure Anna Mamai, and was given a tour of the housing areas and the kindergarten.

The Greek president underlined the importance in a modern society, as the Greek one, of mechanisms to avert such phenomena and to offer the proper structures that help victims heal from traume. "No woman should have to go throught this ordeal by herself," she noted.

Referring to the hostel and its staff services, she said it was valuable because it welcomes and supports every woman individually, providing advice, emotional support, creative activities for their children and personalised action plans for the women's dynamic return to life.

The hostel opened in 2005 and has hosted hundreds of women and their children who are in vulnerable conditions or in immediate danger. At this time, it is hosting 15 women and their children, who are provided room and board and practical, material and medical support.