Within the serene beauty of the Acropolis, behind closed doors, a devastating reality unfolds every day. The European Institute for Gender Equality’s 2024 report states that 73% of domestic violence victims in Greece are women, making it a hotbed for Gender Based Violence issues. Additionally, official figures confirm that reports of domestic violence cases have doubled between the years of 2023-24, with numbers reaching 22,080. For women fleeing war and persecution who’ve found refuge in Greece, these stats indicate that their nightmare did not end when they crossed the border but rather intensified.
During the early half of 2025, the closure of two key service providers, the Athens Diotima Centre and Médecins Sans Frontières, left a profound gap in the services available for survivors. With women – and typically refugee women – going through a storm of vulnerability on their doorstep – being isolated by language barriers, excluded from traditional support networks, and navigating a complex legal system while caring for traumatised children – Action for Women knew they couldn’t give up. In a last-ditch effort, they decided to pool their services to meet the current needs, and thus, LEILA was born.
What is LEILA?
Listen.Empower.Intervene.Love.Assist (LEILA) is a coded, confidential hotline that is available to women even in the most monitored or dangerous situations. LEILA operates through a WhatsApp number; any woman can call or message the number and be connected with trained professionals who provide services ranging from emotional support and legal counselling, in their preferred language, to emergency contraceptives and reproductive care.
How does LEILA work?
When a woman calls or messages on WhatsApp, all she needs to say is that she is “looking for LEILA”, and the team immediately knows that she may be in danger. At LEILA, the safety of the survivor comes first. The trained responder knows how to handle the situation with sensitivity and empathy, avoiding pressing for details that would put the survivor in danger, especially if their communication is being monitored. Conversations are secure, no personal information is stored without consent, and a limited number of trauma-informed personnel handle every case.
But why should a woman going through unimaginable vulnerability and betrayal put their trust in a stranger?
Trauma care and support: All LEILA team members are trained under the Pomegranate Project. “The Pomegranate Project is Action for Women’s holistic protection and empowerment program for survivors, to support women who have experienced displacement and persecution – from psychosocial support and legal referrals, to sexual and reproductive health, education, and empowerment activities,” says Gabrielle Tay, the brains behind LEILA. Additionally, LEILA is not an independent entity; it’s part of “the ecosystem of care” of Action for Women and its partners, so anyone who contacts LEILA has access to a broad range of services.
Medical Care: Gender based violence survivors are isolated from any means of helpful contact; more often than not, the only people they interact with regularly are, unfortunately, healthcare professionals. Through their partnership with Golden Bridges, LEILA brings with it an expertise in community health. Bridging the gap left by the closure of MSF, LEILA provides survivors access to gynaecological care, contraception, STI screening, and pregnancy care, among other life-affirming sexual and reproductive treatments. Just as importantly, they ensure that a woman who is completely isolated and devoid of free will comes into contact with someone who listens, empathises, and guides her to take the first concrete step towards safety.
Relocation: An important component of helping GBV victims is relocation from an unsafe environment. When a woman is in immediate danger, their priority is her safety. To ensure this, LEILA works with state agencies and trusted partners in cases of undocumented survivors to relocate them quickly and quietly.
At forRefugees we are delighted to support innovative partner schemes like LEILA. Through their collaboration with forRefugees, Gabrielle and her team want to spread the word about LEILA so that “more women will learn about LEILA and know this lifeline is here for them. For documented or undocumented women who may feel isolated or afraid to speak out, just knowing that LEILA exists can be the first step toward safety.”
If you know anyone who might be in need of the LEILA service, please share their website: https://afw.ngo/leila
Every bit of awareness, every act of solidarity, helps make LEILA stronger as a promise of safety, dignity, and hope for displaced women going through gender-based violence in Greece.
-Gabrielle Tay – Founder/ Director
