Piece by Zefi Dimadama, AWO Greece
Interview by Mary Adams, AWC The Hague
Since its founding, the International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) has championed the power of women’s voices, ensuring they are heard, celebrated and shared. In 2025, its anthology efforts align with the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This event is a call to action, reminding us of the power of storytelling to illuminate the 12 critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action – from education and health to climate justice and human rights. The 2025 IWWG Anthology, supported by The de Groot Foundation, brings together voices from around the world to reflect on these themes.
Women from FAWCO took the opportunity to share stories with IWWG that touched on 11 of the critical concerns: Human Rights, Education & Training, Poverty, Economy, Health, Power & Decision-Making, Institutional Mechanisms, Environment, Violence Against Women, Media and the Girl Child. The Human Rights Team is proud to publish these works and interviews with the six authors in the coming months.
The third instalment features "No, I'm Not Like These Women Victims" by Zefi Dimadama, which highlights society’s denial and under-estimation of gender-based violence. The narrative underscores the fact that abuse doesn’t discriminate and affects women of all backgrounds. This account illustrates the dynamics of the cycle of abuse, victim blaming and the tragic consequences.
No, I'm Not Like These Women Victims
"I'm not like those women. I don't understand why they tolerate violence from their boyfriends, why they are so weak and passive!" This is exactly what a good friend of mine, Helen, a 40-year-old businesswoman, used to tell me repeatedly.
Helen often emphasized her professional status and independence: "I’m a professional woman, an independent entrepreneur. I have my job, I have my money, I’m strong, and I don’t understand why you keep focusing on issues like equality and women’s rights. That’s enough! Feminism is obsolete. Find something more modern, more interesting, more ‘sexy’ to work on."
She echoed a common stereotype: "Gender equality? Solved. Human rights? Violence against women? Those issues are practically resolved; they don’t exist anymore."
A few months later, my phone rang. It was late on a Sunday night. Helen was crying softly. Her voice was trembling, almost a whisper, as she struggled to speak.
Helen had gone on a short vacation with her new boyfriend at a resort near Athens. I knew she was excited about this trip and her new partner.
Through sobs, she murmured, "Help me. Help me."
"Helen? What are you saying? Calm down and speak louder; I can’t hear you," I begged her, my mind racing with worry.
"He hit me," she finally managed to say. "I’m locked in a small room. I can’t get out. He hit me on the way back from the restaurant, in the car. He slapped me. Then he hit me again when we got to the room. Punching, kicking – everywhere."
My heart sank. I was speechless. I called her name repeatedly: "Helen? Helen?"
She continued, her words broken by sobs: "He beat me and tried to rape me. I begged him to stop. I cried and said no, no. But he wouldn’t listen. He kept yelling at me, cursing me, humiliating me."
Suddenly, I heard a crash and a scream. Helen screamed as someone kicked the door of the small room where she was trapped.
"Call the police now!" I urged her. "I’m hanging up to call them myself. You’re strong, Helen. Hold on."
I called the police and reported the area where Helen was staying, but I didn’t know the exact hotel. I hadn’t asked her earlier because I was simply happy for her – happy she had found someone who seemed kind, handsome, and financially secure. Helen had been thrilled about Kostas, her new boyfriend. She believed she had found a loving companion.
This wasn’t the first time I had witnessed a strong, independent woman fall victim to abuse. Stories like Helen’s are far too common. I recalled a recent workshop I attended on domestic violence and its psychological impacts. One of the speakers, a survivor herself, emphasized that abuse doesn’t discriminate. "It can happen to anyone," she had said. "Strength and independence don’t make you immune to manipulation or violence."
The statistics support this harsh truth. Globally, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, often at the hands of a partner. These numbers are staggering, yet the issue is persistently minimized.
Ten minutes later, my phone rang again. It was Helen. She sounded calm, no longer crying or whispering.
I assumed the police had arrived and she was safe. I was wrong.
Kostas had stopped shouting and threatening her. Instead, he had started apologizing and begging for her forgiveness. Helen opened the door for him. She pitied him.
She called me back to say they were together again. "It was just a bad moment," she said. "Don’t worry. We’re going to sleep now."
Her tone was lighthearted, almost dismissive. She laughed as she hung up the phone. I panicked.
I called her again and begged her to leave. "Helen, please, go down to the hotel reception and take a taxi or a bus. Don’t pack your things. Don’t tell him you’re leaving. Just go. You’re in danger."
"Come on," she replied, laughing. "It’s fine. It was a misunderstanding. Kostas apologized. We’re fine. Thank you for caring, but you’re overreacting."
Kostas even chimed in, laughing in the background and told me "Your friend is in good hands."
I froze. It was almost dawn, and I couldn’t relax or sleep.
The next morning, as I drove to the university, I listened to the radio. A journalist was discussing the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025. The principles of gender equality, the elimination of violence against women, and the advancement of women and girls were being highlighted.
"The path to sustainable development lies in investing in women’s rights," the journalist declared. "Gender equality is not just another problem to solve; it’s the solution to many global challenges. Recognizing and promoting the human rights of all women and girls is our shared responsibility."
Her guest, however, dismissed the significance of these issues: "All of that has been solved. Violence against women? It’s practically a thing of the past."
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, anger surging through me. I thought about the 15 femicides reported in Greece in 2024. Fifteen women murdered because they were women. The patriarchy remains alive and well.
These femicides aren’t just numbers. Each represents a life lost, a story cut short. Helen’s laughter from the night before echoed in my mind, now tinged with chilling irony.
As I parked my car, I reached for my bag and glasses. Just as I was about to turn off the radio, the journalist interrupted the program with breaking news:
"A woman was found dead this morning in Sounio, at a luxury resort near Athens. She was murdered in her hotel room by her partner after a fight. Witnesses reported hearing shouting from the room. The victim’s partner admitted to the crime, claiming he didn’t know how it happened. He didn’t understand how he picked up the knife or how the room filled with blood."
The reporter’s voice continued, but I couldn’t process the words. My mind went blank. Helen was gone. She had trusted him, pitied him, and now she was no longer with us.
In the days that followed, her story became another headline, another statistic. But to me, Helen was not just a number. She was a friend, a woman who had once been so confident in her strength that she couldn’t imagine herself as a victim.
Her story is a grim reminder that no one is immune to abuse and that we must continue to fight for a world where such tragedies no longer occur.
Author
Zefi Dimadama, Msc, Phd
Lecturer, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences
Department of International, European & Area Studies
f. Secretary General for Equality and Human Rights of Greece
Member of Global Women Network “Leading Women for Oceans”
Interview with the Author
Human rights, equal opportunities, the elimination of violence, balanced care responsibilities, and the equal participation of women and men – especially in leadership, employment, and political decision-making – are fundamental principles of democracy. They must be a shared commitment for both women and men. It is a benefit for all of us.
Why did you choose to participate in the IWWG anthology reflecting on Beijing Platform for Action progress?
Participating in the IWWG anthology reflecting on the progress of the Beijing Platform for Action is a meaningful way to engage with the global discourse on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Beijing Platform for Action, adopted during the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, remains a transformative framework addressing critical issues such as poverty, education, violence against women, and equal participation in decision-making. Over the past 30 years, it has driven significant progress, including increased legal protections, economic empowerment for women, and gender quotas in leadership roles. However, as we mark its 30th anniversary, it is evident that gender equality is far from achieved. Women continue to face persistent inequalities and new challenges, including the climate crisis, restrictions on reproductive rights, and underrepresentation in decision-making processes. Global crises such as economic instability, conflicts, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have further exacerbated these issues. In many regions, women bear the brunt of these challenges, whether through violence in conflict zones or as frontline responders to environmental disasters. For me, this remains a powerful motivation. A strong reminder that our struggles and initiatives must continue. The IWWG Anthology offers us the opportunity to express our thoughts in a way that supports and inspires collective efforts toward achieving true equality and empowerment for all women and girls.
How do your personal experiences influence the way you approach human rights topics in your writing?
My personal experiences and the experiences of my peers deeply shape my writings on human rights, especially when our world continues to be profoundly unequal. My writing, my pen can turn my experiences into a common place for people. The lived-experience approach, rooted in real people and stories, adds authenticity and emotional resonance to narratives that might otherwise seem abstract. For example, witnessing educational inequality or gender-based violence at the university where I work enriches the accuracy and urgency of my work. However, I do not rely solely on personal anecdotes. While lived experiences are fundamental, they are complemented by data analysis, research and collaboration with experts. When working on issues such as climate justice or women's leadership, I combine first-hand accounts with statistics and policy insights to ensure that my writing is as emotionally impactful as it is evidence-based.
Can you describe how your background – whether cultural, academic, or professional – shapes your views on human rights for women?
From the very beginning, I considered women's rights as an indivisible part of human rights – a principle that has guided my academic, professional and social work. As an academic specialising in Regional Development and Environmental Policies at Panteion University, I have analysed how systemic inequalities – such as limited access to education, economic opportunities and decision-making roles – undermine women's ability to exercise their fundamental rights. My research on sustainable development and environmental justice has highlighted how climate crises and resource scarcity disproportionately affect women, reinforcing the urgent need to address these issues through a gender perspective. But also in my tenure as Secretary General for Gender Equality and Human Rights at the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, I have systematically and politically deepened everyone's understanding of the structural barriers women face in achieving equality. This role highlighted the need for policies that break down patriarchal norms and ensure women's participation in governance, work and social welfare systems. In essence, my party has a key central idea and a holistic vision: women's rights are not a niche issue, but a universal imperative. Combining academic rigor, political advocacy and grassroots participation, I aim to promote a world where gender equality is not just a goal but a living reality for every woman, on every edge of the planet.
What role do you think storytelling plays in human rights advocacy and creating social change?
Storytelling is a powerful and accessible tool in human rights advocacy, as it activates emotions, enhances empathy and connects people on a personal level. Unlike rigid or overly didactic approaches that can alienate audiences, storytelling conveys lived experiences in a way that feels authentic and relevant. This emotional resonance allows stories to overcome preconceptions, challenge stereotypes, and inspire action by humanizing abstract issues. The power of storytelling lies in its ability to present rights issues through the lens of lived experience, making it more impactful than dry statistics or legal jargon. Moreover, storytelling avoids a peremptory tone that might provoke resistance; instead, it invites reflection and dialogue, fostering understanding and solidarity. At the same time, storytelling can be adapted to different media – such as video, art or digital platforms – making it flexible to reach different audiences. This creative flexibility allows advocates to connect emotionally with people, and bridges the gap between awareness and action by combining emotional impact with accessibility. It transforms human rights advocacy into a shared journey of understanding and change.
How do you see the role of authors evolving in the human rights movement, especially with the rise of digital media and social platforms?
Writers have always played an important role in defending human rights, using their words to raise awareness, inspire action and give voice to those who are often silenced or overlooked. In today's digital age, with the explosive rise of online media and social platforms, this role is not only being enhanced but also transformed. Writers now have the ability to reach global audiences directly, bypassing traditional publishing or media filters. They are no longer distant figures; social media allows for direct interaction with readers and communities, enabling authors to become active members of the dialogue rather than mere observers. Through storytelling, articles, opinion pieces or even short posts and videos, they can highlight injustices, shape public consciousness and mobilise support. Importantly, social platforms have many drawbacks, but they can also be vital allies in spreading awareness and education about human rights. Their ability to penetrate diverse audiences and amplify voices makes them powerful tools for social engagement. Their role cannot be overlooked - not only in communication, but also in fostering critical thinking and empathy. Writers, as well as academics, need to embrace these platforms as key vehicles for outreach, education and change. At the same time, digital media can offer forms of resilience in the face of censorship. While not without risk, online tools provide alternative avenues of expression, especially in areas where freedom of speech is threatened.
What impact do you hope your work will have on public awareness or attitudes toward human rights for women?
My work aims to shift public discourse and social attitudes by highlighting women’s rights as an integral part of universal human dignity and democracy. Through academic research, policy advocacy, and active engagement, I strive to dismantle the misconception that gender equality is a secondary issue, instead positioning it as a cornerstone of sustainable development and social justice. By integrating lived experiences, I aim to use stories to evoke empathy and challenge deeply rooted biases, thus fostering a cultural shift toward recognizing women’s rights as non-negotiable. By advocating for gender-responsive policies in areas such as climate action, economic development, and governance, I seek to ensure that women’s voices are placed at the heart of decision-making processes. This goes beyond addressing immediate inequalities – it builds systemic accountability, making progress lasting and irreversible. Ultimately, I envision a society where gender equality is normalized – not as a distant ideal, but as an everyday reality. My goal is to leave a legacy in which women’s rights are universally acknowledged as human rights.
Looking ahead, what are some human rights issues or themes you would like to explore more in your future works?
Looking ahead, I truly believe that the balanced participation of women everywhere is the future itself. I want to continue amplifying the message that women’s rights are human rights. Through storytelling grounded in lived experience, I aim to inspire empathy and encourage action – without alienating audiences through rigid or overly didactic approaches. At the same time, I am increasingly focused on emerging challenges, such as the impact of artificial intelligence on human rights, and particularly its potential to reinforce gender-based discrimination. By combining research, advocacy, and grassroots engagement, I strive to create inclusive frameworks that place women’s voices at the center of global justice efforts. Above all, I believe that defending human rights is not optional – it is an urgent and collective responsibility, especially in times of crisis. In the face of rising authoritarianism and the regression of women’s rights, we must remain firm, raise our voices, and never compromise on our core values. My vision is of a world where justice, accountability, and gender equality are not distant ideals, but everyday realities.
