OA2078. Protecting the most vulnerable: Findings from the ELIZA 10454 helpline in Greece in 2024

Abstract

Background

Child abuse continues to constitute a persistent and multifactorial social phenomenon on a global scale. Within this framework, the ELIZA Helpline 10454 was established to enhance the capacity of professionals who are in direct contact with children.

Methods

The Helpline aims to both identify and respond to cases of neglect or abuse. The present study presents and analyzes data collected from calls to the Helpline throughout the year 2024.

Results

A notable finding has to do with the nature and specific features of the cases reported: most victims were boys, with an average age of five years, while sexual abuse emerged as the most frequently reported form. Notably, 2024 data from the ELIZA 10454 Helpline identified boys as the most frequently reported victims of sexual abuse—an unexpected pattern that diverges from established international findings, which consistently indicate higher prevalence rates among girls (WHO, 2017; UNICEF, 2022).

Conclusions

This presentation adopts a multifactorial approach and provides answers to key questions regarding the observed discrepancy, focusing on the nature of the reports and the demographics of the children involved. Key Findings from the 2024 ELIZA Helpline – To Be Further Interpreted:

• Most 2024 ELIZA Helpline reports came from professionals, not direct victim disclosures.

• Reports were based on suspicions and behavioral cues, not confirmed abuse cases. Many cases involve 5-year-old boys, who often express experiences indirectly (e.g., through play or drawing).

• A significant rise in calls is linked to the active role of trained kindergarten teachers.

• Τhe Kindergarten Program for the Prevention of Child Neglect and Abuse ’Recognize – Protect’ played a key role in raising awareness and engagement.

• The broad definition of sexual abuse underscores the need for ongoing training and age-appropriate detection tools in early childhood environments.

Key messages

• In 2024, the majority of sexual abuse reports received by the ELIZA 10454 Helpline concerned 5-year-old boys. This finding diverges from international data and may be attributed to heightened professional awareness, the indirect yet expressive modes of communication characteristic of early childhood, and the limited presence of stigma typically observed at this developmental stage.

• The increase and diversification of calls and reports are linked to the targeted training of professionals, such as the “Recognize - Protect” program, which is implemented for the prevention of child neglect and abuse. This highlights the need for continuous training aimed at early identification and intervention, as well as the legal obligation of educators at all educational levels to formally report suspected cases.

Topic

Child abuse, support helpline, early intervention.