A hybrid awareness-raising event on workplace violence and harassment was held on Monday, 7 April 2025, at the Hellenic Diplomatic Academy (HDA), co-organised by the Unit of Equality/Office of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and the HDA. More than 200 employees from the Ministry’s staff participated online both from the Central Service and the Greek Embassies and Consulates abroad.
Experts from the Research Centre for Gender Equality (KETHI) spoke about the forms and the consequences of workplace violence and harassment, discussed appropriate ways of addressing this phenomenon, and analyzed the current legal framework.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou; Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, Ms. Elena Rapti; Secretary General for Equality and Human Rights, Ms. Katerina Patsogianni; and Chair of KETHI’s Board of Directors, Dr. Eleni Zenakou. Their presence conveyed a clear message of zero tolerance toward violence and harassment at work.
Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs Ms. Rapti and Secretary General for Equality and Human Rights Ms. Patsogianni underlined that the MFA has adopted pioneering initiatives on equality issues. In particular, establishing the Office for Equality and launching the MFA Equality Action Plan 2024-2027 are considered as best practices that should be extended to the wider public sector.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Papadopoulou, stressed that “preventing and combating incidents of violence and harassment at work is one of the main aspects of the Equality Action Plan and a fundamental objective”. “No one expects that all problems will be solved in a day, or that every mindset will change overnight, but, at some point, there must be a starting point towards ensuring a work environment where all employees are able to fully develop their personality and skills for our benefit, the Ministry’s, and our country’s in general,” she said.
April 7, 2025