Seventeen femicides were committed in Cyprus between 2020 and 2025, according to data provided by the police to CNA. In 2026, there have been two attempted femicides.

Furthermore, a total of 300 women and 347 children were housed in shelters for victims of violence across Cyprus in 2025, Aristos Tsiartas, President of the National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, told CNA.

Police Data

Specifically, according to police data, there were five femicides in 2020, five in 2021, two in 2022, one in 2023, one in 2024, and three in 2025. The total number of femicide cases was 16: five in 2020, four in 2021, two in 2022, one in 2023, one in 2024, and three in 2025.

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According to the police, of the 17 femicides committed in Cyprus over the past five years, six took place in Nicosia, one in Larnaca, six in Limassol, and four in Paphos.

National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women

At the same time, a total of 300 women and 347 children were accommodated in shelters for victims of violence across Cyprus in 2025, Aristos Tsiartas, President of the National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, told CNA.

Referring to the Body’s activities, Mr. Tsiartas explained that it was established in 2022, pursuant to the provisions of the “Law of 2021 on the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.” He added that the Agency designs and promotes measures, actions, and policies aimed at preventing and effectively addressing gender-based violence at the national level.

In this context, she continued, the Agency has provided specialized training to approximately 200 frontline professionals, and is currently planning to train approximately 100 police officers throughout Cyprus. At the same time, it is carrying out public information and awareness campaigns regarding gender-based violence, victims’ rights, and available support services.

Mr. Tsiartas noted that the Agency, in collaboration with the Police, also contributed to promoting the use of the ELPIS app, which, as he said, “is an innovative technological tool that provides victims of violence with the ability to communicate directly and discreetly with law enforcement authorities in cases of danger.”

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In addition, he emphasized that the Agency is promoting the creation of a Unified Database on gender-based and domestic violence, which is expected to be completed by 2027, helping to improve the recording of incidents of violence and enabling the development of more targeted and effective prevention and protection policies.

“The creation of the database is also expected to contribute to the recording, documentation, and systematic monitoring of femicides, the most extreme form of gender-based violence,” said Aristos Tsiartas. As he pointed out, by collecting reliable and comparable statistical data, the state will be able to identify risk factors in a timely manner and design more effective prevention and protection policies.

At the same time, he noted that the Agency is promoting the operation of the pan-European helpline 116016 for victims of gender-based violence, provides financial support for the activities of nongovernmental organizations, and supports the operation of SPAVO’s 24-hour helpline.

Furthermore, it noted that the Agency is undertaking legislative initiatives and promoting reforms to harmonize Cypriot legislation with the Istanbul Convention, the GREVIO Recommendations, and European Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence.

300 women and 347 children in shelters by 2025

Responding to a question from CNA regarding the number of women victims of violence housed in shelters across Cyprus, the President of the National Coordinating Body stated that, according to data from SPAVO, a total of 300 women and 347 children—that is, 647 individuals—were accommodated in 2025. This figure includes shelters in Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos, as well as alternative shelter facilities operating in those specific districts.

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At the same time, Aristos Tsiartas emphasized that the state provides financial support and free legal aid to victims of gender-based and domestic violence, noting that amended legislation came into effect in 2024, under which victims are now recognized as a distinct category of beneficiaries eligible for free legal aid.

As she explained, the new framework provides for free legal representation in claims for compensation, in proceedings concerning child custody, contact, and child support, as well as for the issuance of protection orders.

““This specific amendment to the Legal Aid Act significantly removes financial and procedural barriers faced by victims of violence and substantially strengthens their access to justice and the protection of their rights,”, she emphasized, adding that this legislative measure was made possible by an initiative of the National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women.