Reports of gender-based and domestic violence in Cyprus rose in 2025, with cases becoming increasingly complex, the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO) said on Monday.
Presenting the organisation’s annual report in Nicosia, SPAVO chair Maria Koushiou said violence had escalated in about 51% of cases handled, underlining the need for timely intervention and stronger support mechanisms for victims.
Psychological abuse was recorded in all cases, while 63% involved physical violence. Economic violence was reported in 23% of cases, followed by what the organisation described as ‘spiritual violence’ and stalking at 13% – including coercion linked to beliefs – sexual violence at 8%, and online abuse at 7%, according to the data.
Numbers and complexity on the rise
SPAVO operates 17 services and programmes nationwide and reported increases both in the number of incidents and the complexity of cases during the year.
The organisation’s national helpline, 1440, received 5,728 calls in 2025. Its counselling service handled 81 new cases, 98.8% involving women. The largest share of victims were aged 35-45, accounting for 43.2% of cases.
Demand for shelter services also remained high, with 374 cases recorded in 2025, including 153 new admissions.
“Our work is not measured only by statistics,” Koushiou said. “It is measured by the women who were protected, the children who felt safe again, and the people who found the strength to continue.”
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina said the government provided €2 million in funding to support SPAVO’s programmes in 2025, describing it as a “practical expression of confidence” in its work.
She said gender-based and domestic violence remains one of the most serious social challenges, with one in five women experiencing violence during their adult life based on national and international data.
“These figures are not just numbers,” Papaellina said. “They represent human lives and traumatic experiences that require our collective mobilisation.”
She added that violence affects women and children across all social backgrounds and has wider impacts on families and social cohesion, while constituting a serious violation of fundamental human rights.
Source: CNA
