In 2024 alone, 438 reports of child sexual abuse were recorded in Cyprus, according to national statistics. On average, that’s a new child abuse case every 20 hours, the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights said on Tuesday.
To mark European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Commissioner's Office launched a new nationwide awareness and action campaign titled #20ForYou.
The initiative aims to inform society and mobilise every citizen so that the silence surrounding sexual abuse of children can be broken.
The numbers are confirmed by the organisation ‘Hope for Children’, which notes that in 2024, 438 children were referred to the Children’s House. The majority of children (74%) were girls and 26% were boys, with an average age of 12 and the most common age being 14.
According to Hope for Children, which is responsible for operating the Children’s House, most of the children referred (71%) were of Cypriot nationality. A total of 89% of incidents occurred within the 12 months prior to referral, while 11% concerned incidents that occurred more than a year before referral. The largest percentage, 58%, involved abuse between a minor and an adult.
Familiar face, biggest threat
In only 5% of cases (20 children) the suspect was not known to the child. In 59% of cases, the sexual abuse occurred outside the circle of family members, and of these, in 54% of cases, the suspect was a known or familiar person. In 26% of cases, the child was related to the suspect (mother, father, step-parent, sibling).
Regarding criminal prosecutions, in 2024, a child was accompanied by a social worker or psychologist to participate in court proceedings in about 20 cases, while 18 children testified via teleconference in specially designed rooms at the Children’s House in all districts.
Since its establishment in 2017, the Children’s House has received 3,019 child referrals.
“The data reflect the characteristics of the problem and the continuous efforts of protection services. They also demonstrate the need to strengthen structures and to make decisions based on real data – from prevention and education to timely reporting and supporting children in judicial procedures,” said Hope for Children.
Source: CNA