“The Smile of the Child” is recognized as a Country Partner of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect- ISPCAN
23 January 2019
PRESS RELEASE
Athens, 23 January 2019
“The Smile of the Child” is recognized as a Country Partner of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect- ISPCAN
“The Smile of the Child”, given its longstanding and internationally-recognized record of activities and expertise in the field of child protection and provision of direct assistance and support, received the positive evaluation of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect following its application to become a country partner of ISPCAN.
The decision was reached by the members of the Society’s Council, which consists of distinguished scientists, experts and specialized professionals from across the globe in the field of child abuse and maltreatment. The application of the “The Smile of the Child” was evaluated on the basis of a number of criteria, including the extent and quality of its implemented actions, the multidisciplinary approach of its provided services at the levels of prevention, direct intervention and therapy of children victims of abuse or maltreatment, as well as the expertise and scientific know-how of the Organization and its human resources in the field of child protection.
“The Smile of the Child”, fully aligned with the mission of ISPCAN, is the only organization in Greece and one of the few internationally to implement actions and services both in the field and scientific levels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
At the level of prevention, “The Smile of the Child” regularly implements awareness raising campaigns, health promotion programs and interventions in schools and other facilities where children are supported, counseling support through the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111, training programs for teachers and parents, as well as community dissemination and awareness raising events for the general public.
At the level of intervention, the Organization receives anonymous and named reports at the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056 and forwards them to the competent authorities, the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111, and the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000. At the same time it develops activities for vulnerable groups of children, as well as migrant and refugee children.
In addition:
● It carries out Direct Interventions for children at risk
● It operates 11 Homes of Care for children victims of violence
● It operates 3 Daycare Homes for children being raised in dysfunctional families
● It has set the Child Advocacy Center at the disposal of the authorities, an autonomous and specially designed facility -under a status and environment of full protection- where children take part in legal proceedings as victims or witnesses according to the international standards and through institutionalized procedures.
Lastly, at the level of therapy “The Smile of the Child” operates “The House of the Child”, the first Day Center in Greece for the psychosocial rehabilitation of children and teenagers, victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence, as well as children involved in bullying incidents.
In 2017 “The Smile of the Child” presented a set of proposals and recommendations that were formulated in the framework of the nationwide campaign “It remains a Secret”. The aim of the initiative, held under the aegis of HE the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, was to promote concrete measures in order to improve the level of prevention and tackling of cases of child sexual abuse.
Read the full proposals here.
For more information about the press release, please contact our press@hamogelo.gr or +210 33 06 140.
About the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect- ISPCAN
ISPCAN’s mission is to prevent cruelty to children in every nation, in every form: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, street children, child fatalities, child prostitution, children of war, emotional abuse, and child labor. It is committed to increasing public awareness of all forms of violence against children, developing activities to prevent such violence, and promoting the rights of children in all regions of the world. Learn more about on ISCAN https://www.ispcan.org/
