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This article focuses on a difficult issue, Greek femicides, a phenomenon that has become more and more relevant these years. The number of femicides recorded during these past few years in Greece raises many questions about our society. What makes a person commit such violence against women? Can a woman leave her home, or can a woman even live in her home? 

Cases of femicide can occur everywhere, outside on the street, in a store, and even in our homes. Often, the perpetrator is usually a member of the woman’s close environment, her husband or partner. Violence towards women in Greece is on the rise, among the victims is an 11-year-old victim who was tragically killed by her uncle after resisting his sexual assault. The most alarming aspect, however, is that even if a woman feels unsafe, police might fail to intervene, neglecting their duties and leaving her unprotected.

One of the most shocking femicides that left the public in disbelief due to police negligence, was the case of Kyriaki Griva. Griva was a 28-year-old woman who was murdered by her ex-partner in April. What makes this case stand out is the police’s unprofessional behaviour towards her, raising many concerns about systematic failures and safety issues.

In order to find protection from her ex-partner, Griva turned to the police. She was with one of her friends when she went to the police station of Agioi Anargyroi to request a patrol car to take her home as she was feeling unsafe due to her ex’s stalking. The police however, refused to provide her with assistance and told her to contact the police emergency line. The emergency dispatch operator on the call told Griva “The police car is not a taxi”, as it was revealed later from the audio recordings. After the call ended, right outside the police station, Griva was brutally attacked by her ex-partner who repeatedly stabbed her, leading to her death.

The 39-year-old man was immediately arrested for the murder of Kyriaki Griva. It is stated that the killer has a history of psychiatric issues and claims to have no memory of the murder. Until today he remains in custody at a psychiatric facility. It took several months after the incident for the police officers who “ignored” their duties and left Griva unprotected to be charged.

This case truly highlights the devastating reality many women face, living with constant fear every day, especially when incidents like that occur. The fact that a cold-blooded murder took place just steps away from a police station is enraging as it reflects the failure of law enforcement to protect women in this society. The tragic and brutal nature of this crime combined with the lack of support and protection exemplifies the flaws within our system that fails to protect its citizens. It is shameful for us, as a society, to allow gender-based violence to persist while tolerating a system that remains ineffective in preventing and addressing these cases. Raising public awareness about violence against women and reinforcing police accountability and response are essential steps to prevent such devastating tragedies from happening again.