Cyprus is making limited progress in implementing Council of Europe recommendations on gender-based violence, AKEL MP Argentoula Ioannou said, announcing that her party will register the issue for discussion at the House Legal Affairs Committee.
Speaking on Politis radio (107.6 and 97.6) programme ‘Defteri Matia’, Ioannou stressed the need for meaningful implementation of the recommendations of the Council of Europe’s independent monitoring body GREVIO (Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence).
Ioannou also called for stronger prevention mechanisms, following the recent attempted femicide case.
She said the case should be treated as attempted femicide, referring to remarks allegedly made by the perpetrator before shooting the victim, which she argued reflect a perception of women as “property” rather than autonomous individuals.
‘No response’ on GREVIO recommendations
Ioannou said that during a recent appearance by the Justice Minister before the House Legal Affairs Committee, she asked for an update on progress in implementing GREVIO recommendations, which have been included in a report on Cyprus since 2022.
According to the MP, no information was provided on measures such as wider use of the Red Button system, police training, or adequate staffing of services dealing with gender-based violence.
“We must not be running around after femicides once these tragedies have already occurred,” she said, adding that the Republic of Cyprus is not implementing international recommendations to the extent required.
Concerns over police and judicial training
Ioannou also raised concerns about the role of the police, noting that the risk is greater when perpetrators are members of the security forces who carry weapons.
She argued that removing weapons or issuing restraining orders is not sufficient if women are not given the financial and social support needed to leave abusive environments.
Referring to recent cases of gender-based violence, she said they highlight the need for full implementation of GREVIO recommendations and better training for both police and the judiciary.
Family court interventions
The AKEL MP also referred to issues of parental responsibility and child contact with abusive parents.
When a mother is a victim of domestic violence, she said, appropriate measures should also be taken regarding contact arrangements with children, noting that this is among GREVIO’s recommendations not yet incorporated into legislation.
Ioannou argued that both legislative changes and systematic training for judges and police are needed to ensure gender-based violence is treated with due seriousness.
Committee discussion to be scheduled
The parliamentarian announced that, in coordination with Legal Affairs Committee chair Christos Christofides, the party’s parliamentary group will register the issue for discussion at the committee’s next session.
The aim, she said, is to examine what steps have been taken by the state, the Justice Ministry and the police leadership to protect women and address gender-based violence.
Ioannou said it is regrettable that such issues return to the spotlight only after another serious case, stressing that the state must be held accountable for the measures it takes to better protect women.
