New Measures Against Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Being Prepared in Cyprus

New legislative changes to combat gender-based and domestic violence have been announced in the Cyprus Parliament. As stated by the Law Commissioner Louisa Christodoulidou Zannetou, access to support will no longer depend on whether the victim has filed a formal complaint.

The statements were made during a session of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee.

The changes are being developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Europe's expert group (Grevio), which monitors the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas reminded that Cyprus ratified the convention in 2017 and adopted harmonized legislation in 2021. However, according to him, the implementation of measures remains fragmentary, and the public is insufficiently informed.

Independent MP Alexandra Attalides stated:

"We are seeing a sluggish reaction from the institutions that are supposed to protect victims."

According to the Commissioner, proposed measures include:

• continuous training for service staff,
• improved risk assessment,
• accelerated procedure for issuing restraining orders,
• inclusion of children in a single protection order,
• possibility of urgent protection measures with less evidence required,
• access to support regardless of filing a complaint.

The Ministry of Justice reported that a corresponding bill will be submitted to Parliament by the end of the year.

Furthermore, by June 2027, Cyprus is obliged to adopt legislation in accordance with the EU directive, which includes combating online violence.

Organization representatives pointed out serious gaps:

• delays in court rulings,
• shortage of clinical psychologists,
• cases where women are unable to undergo examinations at support centers.

In 2025, 69% of complaints concerned families with young children.

Additionally, 6% of victims withdrew their statements — partly due to protracted legal processes.

The police reported that specialized domestic violence units have been established since 2021, and in some cases, investigations can be conducted even without a formal complaint.