As Cyprus prepares to take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the founder of “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center, Joseph Borghese, has called on national and European leaders to place children’s rights at the centre of the upcoming EU agenda.
The appeal coincides with the organisation’s 17th anniversary. Speaking in Nicosia, the founder said the Presidency represents a moment of “moral responsibility as much as political responsibility” for Cyprus.
He further noted that Hope For Children is prepared to support the Cyprus EU Presidency with expertise, research and operational capacity. “We stand ready to advise, collaborate and help implement initiatives that can deliver real and measurable progress for children across Europe,” Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center, said in a press release.
Hope For Children has expanded significantly since its establishment. The organisation now employs 110 full-time professionals and collaborates with more than 40 associates and volunteers.
In 2024, more than 20,000 children in Cyprus received support through its services, which include shelter, psychological assistance, legal and social services, prevention work and education.
The organisation also works extensively at the European level. It has contributed to more than 80 EU projects focusing on foster care, responses to sexual abuse, digital safety, anti-bullying programmes, support for unaccompanied minors and the operation of child helplines, including the EU hotline for missing children and national child helplines.
The founder stated that Hope For Children is prepared to support the Cyprus EU Presidency with expertise, research and operational capacity. “We stand ready to advise, collaborate and help implement initiatives that can deliver real and measurable progress for children across Europe,” they said.
Observers note that the Cypriot Presidency comes at a time when several EU policy discussions related to social welfare, digital regulation and justice could directly influence children’s rights and protection mechanisms.
Marking the organisation’s 17 year milestone, the Borghese expressed gratitude to staff, volunteers and partners, adding that the determination of children themselves remains a driving force. “Seventeen years on, our mission is as urgent as ever,” the founder said.