Greece launches national strategy to combat youth violence and delinquency
Greece on Monday unveiled a national strategy to prevent and tackle youth violence and delinquency, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasizing the government’s long-term commitment to addressing what he described as a complex and growing challenge.
Speaking at the Maximos Mansion during the presentation, Mitsotakis said the new framework would serve as a roadmap for government action. “Our concern is not fleeting,” he said, highlighting the importance of ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence and school bullying.
The prime minister identified three key areas of focus: online safety and screen addiction, youth participation in sports, and mental health support. He also defended the discreet presence of police in areas frequented by young people, saying it contributes to a greater sense of security.
“No child can grow up without boundaries,” Mitsotakis said, referring to the launch of the Kids Wallet application, a digital tool designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s online activity. Developed by the Ministry of Digital Governance, the app includes parental controls, age verification, and user authentication features. Parents can access it using their TaxisNet credentials and customize screen time settings based on their children’s routines.
The app also provides data on mobile device usage, giving parents better insight into their children’s digital habits.
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki pledged to increase the number of psychologists and social workers in schools to ensure more consistent access to mental health support.
“The family is the most decisive factor in protecting minors. A child’s personality is shaped at home,” said Social Cohesion and Family Minister Domna Michailidou, warning that when violence is present or tolerated in the home, children do not learn to reject it and are less likely to speak up.
Other measures announced include in-school suspensions for bullying, the introduction of community service programs within schools, the creation of 10 pilot technical middle schools to support students with integration challenges, and the establishment of a legal framework for “digital adulthood” at age 15, with mandatory age-verification mechanisms for online platforms.
Vasso Artinopoulou, who led the expert group behind the strategy, said the goal is to build a society where fear and violence are the exception, not the norm. “It’s not normal to live with violence,” she said. “We must change our perspective in order to confront this phenomenon.”
Kathimerini
