Protecting children’s rights – Interview with Eliza

What are your organisation’s core mission and values? What inspired its creation?

Our organisation was set up following the death of six-year-old Elisa in New York in 1995. She was born in Brooklyn and lived with her father until his death, after which custody was granted to her mother, who severely abused her, resulting in her tragic death. Her tombstone reads, “World, please take care of the children.”

This heart-breaking story made the cover of TIME magazine and forced legislators to re-examine the responsibilities of social services in relation to child protection. This ultimately culminated in the passing of “Elisa’s Law.”

Elisa’s story deeply affected the artist Marina Karella and her late husband, Prince Michael of Greece, who had met Elisa at her school. They decided to take action in Greece so that children could grow up in a safe environment. Eighteen years later, Elisa’s story continues to define our mission. We are committed to improving Greece’s child protection services, working closely with professionals on the front line to ensure they are better equipped to detect and handle cases of child abuse. At the same time, we educate children so that they learn to speak up when they feel threatened or fall victim to abuse.

What challenges and issues does your organisation aim to address? Why are they important?

In recent years, we have seen an alarming rise in instances of abuse and neglect in Greece, following the country’s nearly decade-long economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. We cannot turn a blind eye, because abuse and neglect have profound and lasting consequences for individuals, families, and society as a whole. Individuals often suffer social exclusion and serious health challenges, and cycles of violence frequently recur within families. At the same time, we cannot overlook the significant cost to public healthcare and welfare systems.

This is why investing in prevention is essential. To prevent violence against children, safeguarding training ensures that suspected cases are identified as early as possible — before they recur or escalate. If a child is being abused in a house across the street, it is crucial that neighbours know how to respond. ELIZA’s Helpline 10454 provides guidance and support so that anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected can call and speak to a trained professional who will advise them on what to do next. Our challenge is twofold: to underline the importance of prevention and to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to respond when abuse occurs or is suspected.

Can you share an example of your impact on the ground?

We partner with companies that want to make a meaningful impact through their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. For example, with the support of Piraeus, we were able to establish a training programme across Greece’s 13 regions to train kindergarten teachers to recognise and respond to signs of suspected abuse. This training has led to an increase in referrals to our Helpline 10454. Findings from 2024 show a rise in calls from trained kindergarten teachers, most frequently concerning suspected sexual abuse of five-year-old boys. This is just one example of how safeguarding training translates into earlier identification and stronger protection for vulnerable children.

Our work in schools also means that children often open up to us.

We hear things like: “I don’t know who to speak to. I’m scared no one is going to believe me. I want to feel safe.”

One of the most heart-breaking things a child said was: “I want to be a child again. Can you help me?”

Looking back, what key milestones or achievements are you most proud of?

With the help of donors in Europe and the US, ELIZA has worked tirelessly to establish five “Child Safety Care Units” in public hospitals in Athens, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis and Patras. As the only designated hospital spaces equipped for the early detection, examination, and medical care of children who have experienced any form of abuse or neglect, these Units facilitate collaboration among the various professionals involved in child abuse cases, including psychologists, social workers, and paediatricians. They also serve as training hubs for doctors and safeguarding professionals beyond the hospital setting.

Our fundraising efforts have also supported the establishment and operation of a helpline that complements other helplines already operating in Greece. Our Helpline specialises in providing guidance to professionals in cases of suspected maltreatment. The helpline team assesses each case and escalates it accordingly, ensuring that every child is referred to the appropriate services. We can also say that our efforts and presence have contributed to changing attitudes. In 2008, when ELIZA was founded, abuse was considered a taboo subject. Our team travelled across the country, listening to professionals and raising awareness. Today, instead of us encouraging schools to take an interest, they are the ones urging us to visit and train their staff.

To date, we have trained more than 40,000 professionals who work with children. This means that every year our work reaches more than 125,000 children, considering the number of children under each professional’s care. Our work is not limited to major cities but extends to remote areas and islands across Greece.

What are the main programmes, projects, or initiatives you are currently developing?

Our five Child Safety Care Units continue to provide vital services for the early detection and effective handling of suspected child abuse cases. Using these Units as hubs, we are taking further action to strengthen and expand our prevention programmes.

A training programme for Child Protection Officers in day-care centres and nurseries is also underway. These designated safeguarding professionals play a key role in recording and reporting child abuse incidents. We believe that strengthening their role will be a critical step towards ensuring a more robust child protection framework.

Moreover, as digital engagement continues to grow, safeguarding must extend to the online environment. We are currently developing a dedicated cyberbullying prevention programme to empower children, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to recognise, speak up about, and safely report online abuse. Last but not least, we are introducing a flagging system for child abuse cases detected in our units. We anticipate that this system will contribute to better coordination and more timely responses across services.

How can individual donors support your work and get involved in your initiatives?

When you support ELIZA, you are not simply funding a programme in Greece. You are helping a child find safety. You are supporting teachers who want to speak up. You are ensuring that when a professional calls our Helpline 10454 with a concern, there is an expert at the other end of the line ready to respond. You are helping to ensure that hospitals in Greece have designated spaces where abused children are properly cared for. Your support turns prevention into action — and action into protection.

There are many ways to get involved. You can wear our ELIZA heart pin and help spread the message. You can choose to train your staff in safeguarding. You can make a financial contribution that enables us to continue and expand our work.

What role does Giving Europe play for your organisation? How does cross-border giving strengthen your mission?

Violence against children cuts across borders. But so does solidarity and collective action. Giving Europe connects people who care about what happens to children beyond their own borders. Cross-border giving enables them to support programmes in Greece, giving us the ability to do more — to take further action for children who are most at risk, including children with disabilities, children in care, and unaccompanied minors.

What are your priorities for the coming years?

Child abuse and neglect are preventable. Every country needs an integrated, interdisciplinary system that protects children from violence. Our priority is to ensure that our programmes are targeted, cost-effective, and impactful, while strengthening Greece’s child protection system. Because behind the cold statistics are children — the Elisas of this world — whom we have a duty to protect.

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