Daphne Project
Abuse of minors / juvenile delinquency: Information campaign, studies, model for a multi-sectoral minor offender violence and sexual abuse confrontation and prevention network

In empirical research carried out by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as part of the LEONARDO DA VINCI (‘Orestes’) programme, it was ascertained that a large percentage of juvenile offenders are victims of abuse and exploitation. It is characteristic that 41% of young detainees in the New Kassavetia Detention Centre and the Korydallos Detention Centre (1997 1998) were victims of crime, with first place being held by beatings, and second place by sexual crimes while 65% of juvenile offenders and children at social risk were forced to work at ages below 15, although it is widely accepted that employment has a negative effect on their development and is thus prohibited under threat of penal sanctions.
Despite the intense problem, it is important that no type of cooperation has been established between the public order and justice authorities on the one hand and the social support, education, health and labour integration authorities on the other. The result, which was also confirmed by this study, is that a very small percentage of minors are supported by some social service in confronting their problems and avoiding repeat offences.

Target Groups of the Plan “Abuse of minors / juvenile delinquency: Information campaign, studies, model for a multi-sectoral minor offender violence and sexual abuse confrontation and prevention network" are minor offenders or others who concern the courts, the Juvenile Custodian Service of Thessaloniki, the police, etc., who are known to be victims of violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, whose precise numbers cannot be determined a priori, but which on the basis of the LEONARDO DA VINCI ‘ORESTES’ research is estimated as being significant.
The Plan ‘Abuse of minors / juvenile delinquency: Information campaign, studies, model for a multi-sectoral minor offender violence and sexual abuse confrontation and prevention network’ used the following methodology:
a. Qualitative and quantitative interdisciplinary approaches to the social phenomenon of abuse of minors, and
b. Secondary analysis of statistical data, case studies and interviews with specialists (e.g. Public Prosecutors, police officers, social workers and psychologists).

The objectives of the Plan were:
•    Transnational collaboration in the study of practices to support juvenile offenders who are victims of abuse
•    The development of a multi-sectoral network of justice, public order, social care, welfare and education organisations and other agencies to support abused young people.
•    The development of a pilot model to support juvenile offenders who are victims of violence and sexual abuse or exploitation.

•    To develop proposals for legislative reforms at European level to improve the support for juvenile offenders who are victims of abuse.

Project Partnership
1.    Society for the Protection of Minors of Thessaloniki (EPATH, Greece)
2.    Association of Friends and Volunteers of EPATH (AFV EPATH, Greece)
3.    Papanikolaou Hospital Thessaloniki (Greece)
4.    Bremen University (Germany)
5.    Lapland University, Rovaniemi (Finland).
6.    Jagiellonian University of Krakow– associate not eligible for community financing (Poland)

.