The need to expedite the creation of new child protection structures, increase staffing, and provide specialized care for children in state care were highlighted during Monday’s debate in the Parliament’s Human Rights Committee. Members of Parliament and representatives of organizations raised issues concerning, among other things, delays in the planning of nine new protection facilities, shortages in mental health services, and the need for better coordination among the relevant agencies.
The Committee Chair and AKEL Member of Parliament Christos Christofides emphasized in his statement that state care cannot be limited to providing shelter and food, but must ensure that children have safety, stability, education, and therapeutic support. As he noted, the Committee revisited the issue—which had also been discussed on September 14—in order to receive responses to the questions it had sent to the relevant agencies.
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“Recognizing the problems is necessary. However, it is not enough,” she said, calling for specific measures, clear responsibilities, and timelines. “Let’s not forget that behind every number there is a child—with a name, a story, fears, and the right to a better future. This is the state’s responsibility. And our responsibility is to persist until these decisions lead to real improvements in the lives of children,” she added.
On behalf of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, the Director of Social Welfare Services, Maria Kyratzi, stated that removing a child from their environment should be a last resort and that cooperation among the relevant agencies is required to meet the child’s needs.
Ms. Kyratzi referred to actions taken since 2020, including the assessment of children’s needs in state-run facilities, strengthening the multidisciplinary approach, the creation of a day center for children in collaboration with a nongovernmental organization, and enhanced foster care for adolescents. He added that a financial support program is in place for children in state care who are pursuing higher education or choosing another career path, while efforts are being made to further specialize services for children with special needs.
Regarding the creation of nine new child and adolescent protection facilities, he said that state-owned land has been secured and local authorities have been notified; however, community reactions have led to further consultations. The initial timeline called for the completion of the planning by the summer of 2026, but this has not been achieved, though efforts are ongoing.
AKEL MP Anastasia Hasikou pointed out that delays in implementing the plans have consequences for children and called for a comprehensive plan, adequate staffing, and specific timelines. “We’re talking about children’s lives,” she said, noting that their needs cannot wait until the procedures are completed.
For her part, AKEL MP Argentoula Ioannou demanded specific answers on how to improve the child protection system, raising issues regarding overcrowding in facilities and children running away. She also pointed out that merely referring to a multidisciplinary approach is not enough unless the needs and problems experienced by the children themselves are addressed in practice.
Alma MP Litsa Drousiotou called for clear timelines and long-term planning, noting that delays in finding solutions exacerbate the problems.
Diana Konstantinidou, a member of parliament for Direct Democracy, raised the issue of children’s participation in the design of policies that affect them, referring to a related proposal by PASYDY to the Committee calling for children themselves to be invited to express their views on the environment in which they would like to live.
Responding to the comments, Ms. Kyratzi acknowledged that there are shortcomings in specific structures and room for improvement, while noting that efforts to train staff are ongoing. She also referred to staff turnover in certain positions and said that the goal is to provide more specialized services, initially for adolescents and subsequently for younger children. Regarding the issue of schedules, she noted that this is a matter of concern for the services as well.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Katerina Pavla, stated that efforts are underway to establish a working group to strengthen coordination among the services, as well as a digital database containing comprehensive information on each child. Responding to a question from AKEL MP Argentoula Ioannou regarding access to child psychiatry services, she cited a serious shortage of staff, noting that one child psychiatrist serves the districts of Paphos and Limassol, and another serves the districts of Larnaca and Famagusta.
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Ioannou reported that the School for Alternative Education and Reintegration (SEFE) is operating for its second year, with five children in Nicosia, while efforts are underway to expand to Limassol. She added that a clinical psychologist was hired this year and that school social workers began working in elementary and middle schools in early October. The upgrade of the Educational Psychology Service, she said, is provided for in the 2028 budget.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, Anthi Papoutsidou, referred to the 2021 law on children in conflict with the law, under which criminal prosecution and detention are considered last resorts, and alternative procedures and penalties are provided for. She also stated that the Ministry of Finance has approved the creation of eight permanent positions for probation officers, who will report to the court and oversee the implementation of the relevant orders.
The spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Christiana Pasa, emphasized the need for specialized therapeutic settings, noting that the views of children residing in specific facilities are taken into account, while the representative of the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights, Antonia Kyriakidou, highlighted the importance of coordination and cooperation among the relevant agencies.
Dimitris Pitsillos, a representative of the Social Welfare Services Branch, discussed the possibility of creating small, family-style facilities to ensure children have a better quality of life.
The Scientific Director of the Association for the Prevention and Combating of Domestic Violence (SPAVO), Andri Andronikou, noted that these facilities can have positive outcomes; however, the challenges intensify when children have special needs. She expressed concern about whether independent living programs can adequately address these cases, noting that more specialized interventions are needed for children who struggle to remain even in foster families.
Andria Neocleous, Executive Director of Hope For Children, highlighted the need for a common approach to assessing children’s needs, as well as greater investment in the education and training of staff.
Iphigenia Katsi, President of the Organization for Social Policy and Action, called on the government to collaborate more closely with civil society organizations, adding that children themselves must participate in shaping the policies that affect them.
In remarks following the session, DISY MP Dimos Georgiadis described the absence of child psychologists from these facilities as problematic, at a time when mental health is an international priority. At the same time, as he noted, “communities must work together so that we can focus on the common good and social benefit and ensure a space with small-scale facilities, so that these children can receive the appropriate care to address the social issues we are facing today.”
AKEL MP Anastasia Hasikou reiterated the need for a comprehensive plan and adequate staffing, while noting that the Committee is considering the possibility of hearing directly from children in state care. “This is their daily reality; this is their life, and we want to know how they—the children themselves—are coping with these challenges,” she said.
Furthermore, Alma MP Litsa Drousiotou noted that child protection cannot be limited to providing shelter, but requires appropriate facilities, specialized staff, and ongoing support. “These children need solutions today. They cannot wait indefinitely until the plans are finalized,” she said.
Source: CNA
