House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou underlined the need for constant modernisation of the legal, political and educational framework in order to strengthen the struggle against gender based violence and discrimination against women and to reinforce prevention and raise awareness.

In a statement before the Plenary on Thursday, on the occasion of November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, she noted that the necessity of such a reminder for awareness and protection of victims arises from a series of discriminations on a global scale such as rapes as a weapon of war, something that our country has witnessed in its recent history, genital mutilation and human trafficking, or femicide, sexual abuse or harassment, intimate partner and domestic violence.

Demetriou recalled that Cyprus ratified, in 2017, the Istanbul Convention on violence against women, and as of 2022 has integrated femicide into the Criminal Code as a distinct crime.

Head of the Association for the Prevention and Combating of Domestic Violence (SPAVO) and representatives of the Association were present at the Plenary and Demetriou noted that SPAVO is the main organization which runs the activities under Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, between November 25 and December 10, which is the International Human Rights Day.

The Parliament is hosting as of today special polystyrene letters prepared by SPAVO with the campaign slogan “No Excuse” . The Parliament building was illuminated orange which is the campaign color.

In a separate statement, Demetriou also referred to World AIDS Day, December 1st, noting that the Parliament’s primary concern is to strengthen the campaign for the most vulnerable groups and the wider society in order to prevent and combat the stigma and ensure decent living conditions and unhindered access to care and support services for HIV-positive people.