How many details about the abuse of a small child can you bear? The unnecessary graphic descriptions I read and hear about the case in Heraklion—where a mother and her partner are accused of attempted murder and physical abuse of her three-year-old child, who is currently hospitalized in critical condition—make me wonder, aside from horror, anger, and despair, can they be in any way useful? On their own, not at all. All they do is foster a passive attitude and trigger curiosity around sharing more and more disturbing details.
Disclaimer: At fyi.news, you will not find any descriptions, as they do not offer any useful information, re-victimize the child, and, according to experts, there is an incomprehensible risk of creating patterns of abuse with new victims.
What if, instead of searching on our screens for how long the two accused in Crete had been abusing the little boy, we focused on finding helplines to understand how we could be helpful if we notice something wrong in our surroundings?
It only takes 5 seconds to find a helpline when you suspect a child (or an adult) is being abused. There are several helplines in Greece where you can report or file an anonymous complaint, and calling the police (100) when a violent incident is happening in the neighboring apartment is the right thing to do.
“Ah, no, I don’t want to get involved!” you think. Which will you listen to, the cry asking for your help or that little voice inside your head that wants to stay out of it? Ultimately, there is no excuse for “I don’t know who to tell to help.”
“Will saying something change anything?” Well, nothing will certainly change if you don’t. Despite delays, poor organization, and the lack of a comprehensive welfare system—or rather, because of these very conditions—we have a responsibility to speak out.
“Will saying something change anything?” Well, nothing will certainly change if you don’t.
“Shouldn’t the social services of a municipality identify the problem?” In an ideal world, yes. However, in our world, the more persistent and frequent our reports are, the greater the chances that the process will start with the police and the juvenile prosecutor. Practically speaking, welfare services won’t intervene unless you approach them directly.
“If I report it, they will probably remove the child from the family, and I will carry that heavy on my conscience.” Indeed. As with all of the above, I sought the advice of experts—social workers, child protection organizations, and individuals with decades of experience in welfare from institutional positions. When a child, who, like all children, loves their parents unconditionally, is hurt, suffering in their presence, and endures punishment with screams, their life depends on the intervention of outsiders. Teachers, pediatricians, neighbors, you, and I will notice signs such as a wound on the body, frequent and unexplained school absences, or continuous cries of pain and shouting.
Decisions are difficult, and as a society, we are not trained to handle the responsibility we carry in extreme situations like child abuse. However, if you decide to protect a child, start by calling one of the following helplines.
Who can you call:
100 – Immediate Action of the Hellenic Police
1056 – SOS Line operated by The Smile of the Child
197 – Immediate Social Assistance Line of the National Center for Social Solidarity
10454 – Line of the Child Abuse Prevention Organization ELIZA
213 1306744 / 213 1306710 / 213 1306703 – Ombudsman – Children’s Ombudsman
Social Services of your local Municipality
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