Today, Tuesday, at 10:00 in the morning, the 40-year-old perpetrator of the brutal femicide in Volos is expected to give his testimony.
The community of the city, as well as the whole of Greece, is shocked by this latest murder by the husband of the 36-year-old mother of four children.
Not long ago, Mr Efstratios Papanis, permanent assistant professor at the University of the Aegean, gave us his own commentary on this issue. Some interesting excerpts:
Femicides and gender-based violence are not unknown social phenomena even in the world’s advanced countries, including Greece.
- The restrictive pandemic measures, as well as their lifting, highlighted the extent of this unhealthy situation at pan-European and national level.
- In the first case, continuous cohabitation under the same roof requires tolerance, management of personal space and time, problem-solving skills, democratic processes, feelings of trust, respect, love and solidarity – otherwise, it can turn into a noose that brings out conflict and resort to violence.
- Furthermore, the increasing engagement with social networks on the internet and new ways of communicating and working through mobiles and computers have increased the pretexts for men who could not tolerate traces of freedom in their partners and demanded the submission of their personality to their own terms.
- The World Health Organisation believes that at an individual level, the risk of committing femicide increases when factors such as unemployment or poverty, substance use, weapon possession, previous threats of murder, sexual violence, experience of abuse or domestic violence, psychopathological problems are present, while at a social level the phenomenon is attributed to inadequate or tolerant legislative frameworks and the failure to establish a culture of equality and tolerance.
- Femicides are not committed exclusively by current or former partners and relatives.
- And finally, from the Professor, a Practical Guide:
Signs that your partner may be prone to actions that could be characterised as abuse
Creating a culture, climate, conditions of terror.
If you feel that you’re afraid to speak, to express yourself, to take initiative, to be yourself, don’t try to change him/her: Research shows that without specialist intervention, change is hypocritical or negligible. If you avoid touching on certain subjects so as not to infuriate him/her, if you feel that whatever you do he finds wrong, if he has made you believe that every humiliation or punishment befits you, remember that a person’s worth is not derived from others’ opinions, but is carried inherently from birth.
Your relationship is already destroyed. For your own good, or that of your children, remove yourself immediately. Abuse causes permanent damage to self-esteem, establishes guilt and shame, makes it difficult to express emotion, and leads to desperation and despair.
Do not easily tolerate the following (each one or combinations of them).
Your partner:
Has a rigid moral/value system and often becomes critical of everything. All that he condemns with disgust is not taken into account when referring to himself or his favourite groups.
Gets irritated at the slightest thing, even with situations that most people would handle with humour or sobriety.
Constantly criticises what you say or do or ignores your opinion.
Becomes enraged over trivial matters that don’t justify such intensity and threatens savage countermeasures or plans violent acts. At the same time, attributes his outbursts to you.
Displays impressive mood swings: From anger and extremity to accommodation and sweetness. Violent or inexplicable cyclothymia.
Is extremely insecure and demands constant and unquestioned confirmation. Feels rejection easily and is often left alone.
Monitors your mobiles and digital world, becomes an unseen stalker, becomes jealous at the slightest thing and controls your outings and finances.
Maintains inflexible procedures, rituals, is a perfectionist, often fantasises and creates scenarios of injustice, violence, dominance, enjoys non-consensual sexual encounters in his thoughts.
Is unable to recognise and understand others’ feelings.
Is arrogant and promises things beyond his capabilities.
Destroys material things when enraged, even if they are his favourites.
Threatens to separate you from your children, friends or loved ones, whom he accuses of trying to separate you or of plotting against you.
Is fascinated by violent films, by the use of weapons, and by displays of power against groups with less strength and against animals.
Abuses alcohol and substances.
Has a history of violence or comes from a family with similar incidents.
Has been involved in school bullying or has joined gangs.
His heart rate increases, breathing becomes fast and sharp, shows trembling in the extremities, turns red – in other words, has all the signs of hyperarousal and anger.
