Cyprus: 1 in 3 Women in Europe Has Experienced Violence, Says Justice Minister

At a press conference in Nicosia, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Charchiotis, stated that one in three women in Europe has experienced some form of violence. Only one in eight women reports the incident to the Police.

Gender Equality Commissioner, Josie Christodoulou, referred to an Amnesty International survey (2017) showing that 46% of women who experienced online abuse stated that it was misogynistic or sexist.

The conference marked the launch of a nationwide campaign to prevent and combat sexism. Mr. Charchiotis stressed that promoting gender equality is a key priority of President Nikos Christodoulides' government.

The 2020 law, which defines sexism as a criminal offense, is a pioneering legislative text. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the need for social change and the fight against gender stereotypes.

In the context of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026, online violence against girls aged 13-18 has been set as a priority.