Sexual abuse

It manifests as coercion into sexual intercourse, unwanted touching, sexual humiliation, or exploitation, often in conjunction with the dynamics of power, control, and fear that characterize IPV.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)—also termed domestic or spousal violence—refers to actual or threatened physical harm, and more broadly encompasses physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, including coercion and stalking, inflicted by a current or former intimate partner.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

The definition is intentionally inclusive, applying to sexual or romantic relationships regardless of marital status or the genders involved. IPV is widely recognised as a major public health problem and is often used as a means of exerting power and control.

Prevalence estimates indicate that roughly one quarter of women and around one tenth of men experience rape, physical assault, and/or stalking by an intimate partner over their lifetime in the United States.

While IPV occurs across racial/ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups, minority women experience disproportionately high rates. Additional risk factors include socioeconomic disadvantage (lower income and education), adverse childhood experiences, younger age, unemployment, and sexual minority status.

Despite substantial mental health impacts, survivors’ psychological needs frequently remain unmet due to limited routine screening, stigma, and fear of retaliation, alongside urgent needs for safety and practical resources.

IPV differs from stranger violence because ongoing access and emotional bonds can increase frequency and severity, producing serious injury, trauma, impaired social functioning, and sometimes death. Although possible in any pairing, severe IPV most commonly involves male-perpetrated violence against women.

More about IPV

Stalking refers to a sustained course of conduct in which a person engages in fixated and obsessive actions that are unwanted and occur repeatedly, leaving the target feeling afraid, threatened, alarmed, or seriously distressed.

This “FOUR” pattern—Fixated, Obsessive, Unwanted, and Repeated—captures the defining features: the individual cannot desist, often escalates by finding new routes of access, the behaviour is unwelcome, and it occurs more than once, forming a recognisable pattern. Stalking is frequently perpetrated by someone the victim knows, such as an ex-partner or acquaintance, and can occur face-to-face, through communications, or online.

Behavioural manifestations include the following or loitering near a person’s home, workplace, or regular locations; turning up uninvited; sending persistent calls, texts, emails, letters, gifts, or messages even after being blocked; spying, watching, and other forms of surveillance; interfering with or damaging property; identity-related interference; and making direct or implied threats.

Cyberstalking may involve monitoring social media or internet use, accessing or hacking accounts, installing spyware or tracking software, posting about the victim, or sharing private information or images without consent.

Although single acts may appear minor in isolation, stalking is established when two or more incidents collectively create fear or significant disruption. Consequences commonly include chronic anxiety, reduced trust, safety-related lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, long-term psychological or physical harm.

More about Stalking

Source: Eurostat Crime Statistics 2024. Figures are indicative; verify latest data before publication.

Around one third of women in the EU have experienced physical or sexual violence in adulthood according to the EU gender-based violence survey (wave 2021)
When looking at women who have ever had a partner in their lifetime, 18% of these women experienced physical (including threats) or sexual violence by a partner.
In 2023, sexual violence offences, including rape, continued to rise across the EU.

First principle: Your safety and survival come first

There is no single “correct” way to respond to an assault or the threat of one. People freeze,
comply, flee, or resist all are normal survival responses, and your body may react in ways
you did not choose. Whatever you did, or do, to get through it is valid. The responsibility lies
entirely with the person who chose to harm you.
If you sense immediate danger

Trust your instincts. If a situation feels wrong, act on that feeling :
leave, move toward
other people, or get to a public, lit, or staffed place.

Draw attention. Other people nearby are a strong deterrent; making noise or moving
toward a crowd can interrupt an attacker.

Prioritise survival, not “winning.” Your aim is to get through it and reach safety.
Complying to stay alive is not consent and is not failure.

Keep a phone reachable if you can, and know that 112 can be called even from a
locked phone.
Right after. Your priority is getting to safety

Get to a place you feel safe and, if you can, be with someone you trust. You do not have to
manage this alone.

Reaching out to a friend, a helpline, or emergency services is the first
step, and support workers can help you decide what to do next at your own pace.
Seek medical care. Some of it is time-sensitive

See a doctor or go to a hospital even if you have no visible injuries.

Medical care protects your health regardless of whether you decide to report, and several measures are urgent:

Emergency contraception is most effective the sooner it is taken (generally within 72–120 hours).

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be started as soon as possible, ideally within hours and no later than 72 hours to be effective.

Testing and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections, and care for any injuries.

A forensic medical examination can document evidence; you can usually have it done while you decide whether to report.
Preserving evidence (if you might report)

If there is any chance you will report, try, if you can cope with it, not to wash, shower, brush your teeth, change or wash your clothes, or clean up before a medical/forensic exam, as this can preserve evidence.

Keep any clothing in a clean paper (not plastic) bag.

That said, if you have already showered or changed, support and a medical exam are still worthwhile evidence can still be gathered and your health still matters.
Reporting is your choice, and you can do it at your pace

Whether and when to report to the police is your decision. In Greece, rape is a serious criminal offence under Article 336 of the Penal Code, which since 2019 is based on the absence of consent, sexual acts without the free consent of the other person are a crime. You can contact the police on 100 or 112, and a specialised support service can accompany and advise you through the process.
Support & resources

15900 national SOS helpline for women, 24/7, free and confidential, in Greek and English; it explicitly supports those who have experienced rape or attempted rape, and refers to shelters, counselling centres and health services.

197 National Center for Social Solidarity (ΕΚΚΑ) 24/7 immediate social-support line, staffed by social workers and psychologists.

Counselling centres a nationwide network of specialised structures provides psychosocial and legal support for survivors of sexual violence; the Athens centre cooperates with the “Elena Venizelou” maternity hospital on sexual and reproductive health.

100 / 112 police and the EU-wide emergency number.

For minors: the child helplines 1056 (The Smile of the Child) and 1107 (EKKA national child protection line) offer dedicated support.
A note on what comes after

Shock, numbness, flashbacks, guilt, anger, and difficulty trusting are all normal reactions to trauma.

They are not signs of weakness, and not your fault.

Specialised counselling helps, and recovery is possible. You deserve support, whatever you decide about reporting.

Organizations, helplines, and support resources.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse

Where you Find it

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Stalking

Statistics on violence in Europe

Looking for Help?Get an Answer

First principle: Your safety and survival come first

If you sense immediate danger

Right after. Your priority is getting to safety

Seek medical care. Some of it is time-sensitive

Preserving evidence (if you might report)

Reporting is your choice, and you can do it at your pace

Support & resources

A note on what comes after

How to ask for help

Safe Support Resources

Looking for Help?
Get an Answer