Domestic violence remains one of the most serious problems facing modern Greek society, with significant consequences for victims, families, and the broader community. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in criminal prosecutions related to domestic violence incidents — a trend that reflects both the scale of the problem and the growing mobilization of authorities and society against such behavior.
Domestic violence: Dramatic rise in criminal prosecutions for related offenses
According to data from the Independent Department for the Collection and Processing of Judicial Statistical Data (JustStat), criminal prosecutions for domestic violence offenses showed a remarkable increase between 2020 and 2025.
Specifically, 2,534 criminal prosecutions were recorded in 2020, while by 2024 that number had climbed to 13,486 cases. In 2025, a slight decrease was observed, with 12,880 cases — yet the figures remain many times higher than in previous years.
The most significant category of offenses involves domestic bodily harm. Related prosecutions rose from 1,159 cases in 2020 to 5,630 in 2024 and 5,758 in 2025. A similar picture emerges for domestic violence and threats, where cases increased from 1,246 in 2020 to 6,997 in 2024 and 6,357 in 2025. These figures demonstrate that forms of violence occurring within the family environment continue to be the most common grounds for criminal prosecution.
Also notable is the rise in prosecutions for sexual offenses committed by family members. Cases of rape and sexual abuse remained at very low levels until 2023; however, 236 prosecutions were recorded in 2024, with a corresponding figure of 205 in 2025. Additionally, prosecutions for sexual dignity violations increased from 120 cases in 2020 to 590 in 2024, reaching 506 in 2025.
Reports on the rise
These figures indicate that an increasing number of victims are reporting incidents of sexual abuse and harassment taking place within the family. However, as legal experts explain, the rise in criminal prosecutions does not necessarily mean that actual incidents of violence increased at the same rate. According to the report, this development may also be linked to heightened public awareness, growing public trust in prosecutorial and judicial authorities, and greater encouragement for victims to report incidents that previously went undisclosed. The public debate surrounding violence against women, femicide, and victims’ rights has played a significant role in bringing the issue to light and breaking the silence that had surrounded it for decades.
Particularly alarming are the figures involving cases where the victim is a woman and the perpetrator is a man. For 2024 and 2025, 2,496 and 2,346 criminal prosecutions were recorded in this category respectively. Most involved unlawful violence and threats, as well as physical assault, while increases were also noted in cases of sexual dignity violations and attempted homicide. The geographic distribution of cases shows that the largest urban centers account for the highest number of prosecutions. Athens consistently records the most cases, with 5,358 in 2024 and 5,961 in 2025. High figures are also reported in Piraeus and Thessaloniki, while significant increases were observed in areas such as Rodopi, Nafplio, Mytilene, and Kilkis. These figures make clear that the phenomenon is not confined to major urban centers but affects the entire country.
The report also records the most extreme forms of domestic violence, including homicides and fatal physical injuries. Prosecutions for the murder of a family member or partner rose from 18 in 2024 to 22 in 2025, while in cases where the victim was a woman and the perpetrator a man, prosecutions doubled — from two to four cases. It should be noted, however, that due to the non-mandatory recording of victim and perpetrator gender, these figures cover only 56% of cases for 2024 and 36% for 2025.
While the numbers may be small compared to other offense categories, they highlight the severity and tragic consequences that can result from the escalation of domestic violence.
In conclusion, the available data clearly show that domestic violence remains a deeply troubling social phenomenon in Greece. The dramatic increase in criminal prosecutions in recent years reflects both the extent of the problem and the greater readiness of institutions and victims to confront and report such behavior. The priority now must be to develop effective prevention policies and victim support structures — so that these incidents decrease rather than grow, and citizens are genuinely protected.
Published in Parapolitika
