Reports and incidents of gender-based and domestic violence have increased throughout 2025 as well as the growing complexity of the cases, according to the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO).
During the Association’s Annual General Assembly, in Nicosia, the Chairwoman of the Board of SPAVO Maria Koushiou, while presenting the 2025 report, expressed particular concern, noting that in approximately half of the cases handled by the Association (51%), there was an escalation of violence in recent months, a fact that, she said, underscores the need for timely intervention and effective support for victims.
According to the data presented during the Annual General Assembly of SPAVO, psychological violence is recorded in all incidents handled by the Association, while 63% also includes physical violence, 23% economic violence, 13% spiritual violence and stalking, 8% sexual violence, and 7% electronic violence.
It was noted that SPAVO operates 17 services and programs, while the data for 2025 indicate an increase in both reports and incidents, as well as greater complexity in the cases it is called to handle.
At the same time, it was reported that during the year, 5,728 calls were recorded to the National Helpline 1440. According to the data presented during the Annual General Assembly of SPAVO, the Association’s Counseling Service served a total of 81 new cases in 2025, of which 98.8% concerned women and 1.2% men. The largest concentration of victims was recorded in the age group 35-45 years (43.2%), followed by the ages 45-60 years (24.7%) and 25-35 years (23.5%).
Regarding the shelter for women during 2025, a total of 374 cases were recorded, of which 153 concerned new cases. As mentioned, the numbers are necessary for understanding the extent of the problem, however, “our work is not measured only by statistics.” “It is measured by the women who were protected, the children who felt safe again, the families that regained perspective, and the people who found the strength to continue,” she emphasized.
In her speech, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina stated that SPAVO’s programs received state support of 2 million euros for 2025, noting that this is a “practical expression of confidence in the work being done.”
She said that the Government places particular importance on volunteering and non-governmental organizations operating in the field of social care. Papaellina characterized domestic and gender-based violence as “one of the most serious social problems of our time with deep social impact,” emphasizing that one in five women experiences violence during her adult life.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that national, European, and international data demonstrate the seriousness of the phenomenon and its deep social impact, noting that according to relevant studies, one in five women experiences physical violence at least once during her adult life, one in ten experiences sexual violence, while one in five experiences violence within the family. “These figures are not just numbers. They represent human lives and traumatic experiences that require our collective mobilization,” she stated. As she pointed out, violence knows no social, economic, educational, age, religious, or racial distinctions, but affects women and children from every social background.
She described it as a blatant violation of fundamental human rights, which can lead to serious injuries, cause long-term psychological and emotional consequences, and even cost human lives. She also added that the effects of violence do not stop at the immediate victim but extend to children who witness violent incidents, to other family members, and to the broader social community, negatively impacting social cohesion and the well-being of society.
She noted that “these figures represent human lives and traumatic experiences” emphasizing that violence affects women and children regardless of social background.
She further added that the effects of violence do not stop at the immediate victims but adversely affect social cohesion and the well-being of society as a whole.