Piraeus Bank and the Diotima Centre collaborate to support women who have experienced gender-based violence

Piraeus Bank and the Diotima Centre announced their collaboration for the implementation of an innovative programme to support women who have suffered or are experiencing gender-based violence. 

The EQUALL - Equal Opportunities for All Women programme was designed to specifically respond to the needs for empowerment, economic and social self-reliance and independence of gender-based violence survivors, supporting their efforts to escape abuse and sustain an independent life. 

As it has been established that the majority of gender-based violence victims also face problems of economic self-sufficiency and independence, in the context of abusive relationships, domestic/intimate partner violence. In fact, economic violence is often a form of violence that accompanies other forms of violence (physical violence, psychological and emotional violence, etc.), which involves denial of access to financial resources and even employment. 

The new programme offers support to women of all ages and social profiles and can particularly help those in a precarious financial situation (unemployed or underemployed, etc.), regardless of their qualifications. The support provided is based on a specialised scientific approach and methodology that meets the individual needs of women. 

The Diotima Centre, through its many years of activity in the field of prevention and response to gender-based violence in Greece and the large number of women it has supported, has the expertise and holistic approach needed to assist women. 

More specifically, support to women victims of gender-based violence through the EQUALL - Equal Opportunities for All Women programme includes: 

A) Individualised supportive psycho-educational professional counselling sessions aiming at empowering women to recognize their positive and strong points, manage their self-reliance creatively and proactively by making use of all available resources (material, psychological and social), and achieve the reconstruction of their self-image, and the strengthening of their self-esteem and self-confidence. 

B) Upgrading qualifications and acquiring (new) skills. Through counselling support, their professional profile (educational level, previous work experience) is mapped, soft/social skills are identified and exploited and their professional (re)orientation is encouraged. 

C) Preparation for searching and finding a job. 

The first cycle of the programme will last for six months and will benefit 25 women. 

EQUALL - Equal Opportunities for All Women is part of Piraeus Bank’s multifaceted EQUALL programme for a society of equal people and includes gender equality and support for the younger generation and vulnerable social groups as its main pillars. EQUALL’s actions aim to eliminate gender discrimination, exclusion and stereotypes, and all forms of violence, empower women and vulnerable people, and promote equal access opportunities for all people to education, culture, economic independence and personal development.  

The Diotima Centre is a women's non-profit organisation specialised in gender and equality issues, founded in 1989. Its vision is to highlight and lift gender discrimination and its mission is to empower women and femininities. The core of its action is the prevention and treatment of gender-based violence. 

Athens, 27 November 2023