"The problem of gender-based violence is much bigger than we thought," said the Chief of Police, Themistos Arnaoutis, before the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Committee, which held an extraordinary meeting on Monday morning (06/07), on the occasion of the attempted femicide that took place a week ago in Limassol.
The scope of the problem is also reflected in the numbers he presented during the session: From 2021 to 2026, 18,409 complaints of domestic violence were recorded and only 3,674 arrests, 2,858 perpetrator exclusion orders and 373 court orders. In a remark by the president of the Committee, Christos Christofides, that only one sixth of the perpetrators are arrested, Mr. Arnaoutis replied that "in some incidents arrests are not needed".
In relation to the "ELPIS" application for immediate assistance to victims of domestic violence, the Chief noted that there are 457 registered users, while 27 complaints have been made so far. In relation to femicides in the last six years, he cited the following data:
2020: 5 victims with 3 convictions
2021: 5 victims with 4 convictions
2022: 2 victims with 2 convictions
2023: 1 victim with the perpetrator wanted
2024: 1 victim with the case under investigation
2025: 3 victims with cases under investigation
For her part, the head of the Police's Vulnerable Persons sub-directorate, Eleni Nikolaou, noted that every year the Police receives about 3,000 complaints about domestic violence. For 45% of the cases, a criminal file is formed, while 75% of them are registered before the Court."
The director of the SWS, Maria Kyratzi, cited data regarding the Woman's House, noting that in 2022 277 victims were taken to it, 237 in 2023 and 236 in 2024. She clarified, in fact, that the Woman's House has been operating since 2020 in Nicosia and efforts are being made to expand it. Elsewhere in her statements, she noted that there is an increase in complaints received by the Services.
The scientific director of SPAVO, Andri Andronikou, said that more than 3,000 thousand cases of domestic violence are recorded per year. As he noted, in 2025, 110 calls for domestic violence were recorded through the helpline and 20 additional requests via sms, livechat and central email. At the same time, the counselling service supports seven female victims every month. The year, as she said, ended with 374 cases, while the accommodation facilities take care of about 64 victims every month – 30 women and 34 children. Ms. Andronikou also blamed the fact that Cyprus is the only country in the European Union where the Court asks the Social Welfare Services to find shelter for the perpetrator, before issuing the order to remove him.
Psychometric tests are not carried out for possession of weapons by police officers
However, the Chief's report, on the occasion of the recent crime in Limassol, that psychometric tests are not carried out for the possession of weapons by police officers, but only for their integration into the Corps, caused a sensation. Mr. Arnaoutis dissociated himself from the practice in question, saying that they had to be done. He clarified that the Police do not hesitate to remove the weapon, whether hunting or otherwise, where and where there are allegations of violence, pointing out that there have been cases where they even voluntarily removed weapons.
The Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris, in his own intervention, announced that the intention of the Ministry is in cooperation with the police to amend the provisions of the law to perform psychometric tests every three years on police officers who possess weapons. "The intention is to bring them as soon as possible because we consider the issue to be very serious" and there must be proper prevention, he noted.
He expressed the position that from a legislative point of view, Cyprus is at a very good level, however, he admitted that prevention mechanisms need to be improved. "We will focus, in cooperation with the Police, on responding to the minimum time from the moment we receive a complaint."
At the same time, the Minister noted that the priority is the trial of cases and the imposition of penalties, noting that he will contact both the Legal Service and the executive on this issue. In relation to the leak of a video from the crime scene in Limassol, Mr. Fytiris said that instructions were given for investigation and that "such incidents should be criminalized".
The Minister also mentioned that Cyprus already has a high-level legislative framework, pointing out, however, that some amendments are needed based on GREVIO's comments. At the same time, he said that the Ministry, in cooperation with the Police and the other competent services, will focus on responding "in the minimum time" with properly trained officers, while another key issue is the information of the citizens.
In conclusion, the Minister of Justice pledged to examine the issue of creating a database for coordination as soon as possible. The representative of the Cyprus Bar Association, Alexia Kountouri, said that after the double murder in Workers in 2021, it was decided to make a database for coordination, which is pending five years later. Mr. Fytiris characteristically stated "that there is no excuse, I promise to look at the matter as soon as possible. In the public sector, things can be done quickly, when there is a will."
New appointment in September
It is noted that the Human Rights Committee will meet again at the end of August and beginning of September to re-evaluate the situation and the actions taken on the issue. "This is the work of Justice. It aims, however, to examine whether the state has the mechanisms to prevent violence before it leads to the loss of a human life. Because every attempted femicide raises a crucial question: Could the State have intervened earlier? But perhaps the even more important question is this: How do we organize a state that can recognize in time that a woman is in mortal danger? This is the real meaning of prevention. The Istanbul Convention, which the Republic of Cyprus has ratified, is absolutely clear. The obligation of the state does not begin when the crime is committed. It starts much earlier."
