Filenews 22 February 2023
One tree for every 38 cases of domestic violence and child sexual abuse handled by the Police in 2022 will be planted on Friday in Aronas to create the Forest of Power and Hope.
This is the last tree planting during the tenure of Environment Commissioner Klelia Vassiliou, who in a written statement said that a total of 100 trees will be planted, since the total of these cases in 2022 was 3800.
According to Ms. Vassiliou, about 3500 thousand relate to violence in the family, while another 300 to sexual abuse of children.
The tree planting will take place on February 24 at 11.00 a.m., in cooperation with the Police Headquarters and in particular the Subdirectorate for the Management of Cases of Vulnerable Persons (YDYEP) of the Police Headquarters.
"We are implementing the last tree planting of my term – as the last political act. As such, I wanted it to be particularly symbolic with the creation of the Forest of Strength and Hope, planting a hundred trees in Aronas, with the valuable support of the Police Leadership, the members of the YDYEP and the students of the Police Academy", said Ms. Vassiliou.
He noted that "with the creation of this small forest, in addition to the environmental benefit that the action will give, we seek to send the message to every victim of violence that he is not alone. Walking in this space, each of us will be able to see on the face of the trees another 3800 thousand anonymous victims."
"The issues of abuse and the long discussions with children, but also adults who are going through the torment of mental rehabilitation, but also of justice, do not leave us unmoved," Ms. Vassiliou said.
He added that "Environment Commissioner, Department of Forests, and Police Headquarters, we are joining forces, creating together the Forest of Strength and Hope."
"Each tree as a symbol of hope and an ingrained wish that their oxygen and light will cultivate a culture of reducing these phenomena, but also empowering the victims that they are not alone," Ms. Vassiliou said.
A forest, he noted, "which will be a refuge for anyone who asks for strength from nature, symbolizing the embrace of every good human thought for hope in life, but also alertness from every non-victim in how we anticipate and prevent a potential victim who may be breathing next to us. It concerns us," he concluded.
(CNA
