Partners

• Nine individuals appointed by the Council of Ministers from the governmental and non-governmental sectors

Description

To implement the national strategy for combating sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, special legislation was adopted that provided for the establishment of a council of nine individuals appointed by the Council of Ministers from the governmental and non-governmental sectors. Three out of the nine members were nominated by non-governmental organisations and one member had to represent the Advisory Committee for the Prevention and Combating of Violence in the Family. The mechanism, which took the name Foni, the Greek word for ‘voice’, is tasked with:

• strategic planning;
• promoting, monitoring, evaluating and coordinating the implementation of the national strategy by various agencies in the governmental or non-governmental sectors;
• making recommendations to the interministerial committee on the adoption of legislative and other measures;
• carrying out awareness campaigns;
• monitoring, funding, coordinating and evaluating all relevant prevention programmes, including in the governmental and non-governmental sectors;
• developing the methodologies, guidelines and specifications of each prevention programme;
• developing and implementing training programmes for government- and non-government-sector officials and volunteers on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and child pornography.

Foni’s website provides step-by step guidance for teachers and parents, advice on how to raise awareness and an online complaint form for children.