ABSTRACT
Research on family violence in Greece has been so limited that it is difficult to determine the extent of its prevalence, its nature, and its consequences. However, there are several indications that family violence is a significant problem for Greek society. According to a 1999 survey in European Union countries, Greece had the highest level of domestic abuse. This high incidence of domestic abuse is most often attributed to the lower status of women in Greek society. Among the main reasons for the lack of sufficient information is the very limited reporting of family abuse. Greek victims are often reluctant to report abuse because of the social emphasis on the close-knit structure of the family and the subsequent need to preserve family ties as well as insufficient protection of the victims by the law enforcement and legal authorities.
