Child abuse victims to get a friend
A presentation by two European child defense lawyers before an audience of hundreds of schoolchildren and members of Parliament at the Zappeion Hall yesterday could be the first step toward legislation for a council of defense lawyers to protect victims of child abuse in Greece. An initiative of PASOK Euro-MP Myrsini Zorba, the presentation offered an insight into the Finnish and Danish models of child defense law – two examples which might provoke action for reform by PM Costas Simitis who is reportedly considering a similar system for Greece. In Finland, a network of defense lawyers provides support to hundreds of children, who can call a phone number to seek professional help. Meanwhile, French children now have the right to a psychiatric test before their parents can commit them for mental treatment after the National Assembly approved a proposal by the local child defense council. The child defense lawyer «personifies the solution to children’s problems,» said Zorba. It is unfortunate that such a gifted and tortured nation refuses to take a lesson from its own tradition and -in a shockingly carefree manner – has adopted tactics and practices that have been used against it in the past. The ease with which David’s offspring have transformed themselves into a new Goliath is appalling.
