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Find practical next steps to ask for help, plan for safety, and connect with the right services.

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SWS Police SPAVO Other support services

The platform’s information concerns adult victims, with or without children.

For minors

The 1446 helpline provides support to children facing all forms of abuse and neglect, such as bullying, physical or sexual abuse, cyberbullying, grooming, etc., as well as to parents seeking guidance on issues concerning their children. The 1466 Helpline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge.

Social Welfare Services (SWS)
Government service to assess your situation, guide you and connect you with other support services

How can Social Welfare Services (SWS) help me?

Social Welfare Services support individuals and families facing social problems and offer guidance, aiming to empower the most vulnerable individuals and families. Social Welfare Services are legally required to offer you free support through their staff and to connect you with other services that can provide you with additional support.

If violence is reported

If you or someone else reports (by name or anonymously) that you are being subjected to violence, then the SWS, through a social worker, will record:

  • What exactly has happened
  • Whether your life is in immediate danger
  • Whether you are already being monitored by other services
  • Whether you are aware of the report (when another person makes the report)
  • Any other information that may be important

Working with an SWS officer

From the moment you contact the SWS, you will begin working with an SWS officer for approximately three months. During that period you will receive support and guidance. You will be informed about the laws in Cyprus that protect women from domestic and/or gender-based violence, and about whether a complaint needs to be made to the Police. If necessary, protection orders may be requested for you, you may be accompanied to a doctor, financial assistance may be provided, and/or a safe place may be found for you to stay. The SWS officer may also connect you with other services that can support you further, for example Social Insurance Services, Mental Health Services, etc. If after this three-month period you need to continue working with the SWS, if you move, or if the officer’s duties change, another officer may take over. You will not need to tell your story again, because everything is already recorded in the SWS file.

If you already work together through Parental Responsibility

If you are already working with the SWS through the Parental Responsibility programme and an incident of violence occurs against you or your children, that incident will be examined by an officer responsible for violence issues. The violence officer will then inform the colleague who is already handling your case (through Parental Responsibility) of the findings of their investigation.

Family Counsellor (Article 6, L. 119(I)/2000)

All SWS officers are authorised to act as Family Counsellors. The Family Counsellor may, under Article 6 of L. 119(I)/2000, offer you:

  • Practical help (e.g. financial support through programmes)
  • Information about services offered by the SWS, now and in the future
  • Referral to other relevant support services, public or private, if you wish (e.g. Women’s House)
  • Information about your rights (note: this does not replace legal advice)
  • Cooperation with the Police on safety matters
  • Convening a multidisciplinary team of officers from various services to discuss your case.

If there are suspicions that a child is being abused

If there are suspicions that a child is being abused, the Family Counsellor will take all necessary steps for the child to be examined medically or by other specialists as soon as possible. If a child is to be medically examined, the consent of the parent or person responsible for the child must be obtained first. However, if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that one or both parents are abusing the child, the Family Counsellor may proceed without consent, but must inform the Attorney General in writing before the examination or as soon as possible, within three days.

If necessary, a multidisciplinary team may also be called — officers from other relevant services — to discuss your case with other specialists.

If there are children in the family

  • Professionals will assess how children are affected by violence, whether they are direct witnesses of violence against you or direct victims. In any case, when children are in an environment where violence (of any kind) is present, the children are considered victims of violence.
  • If the Police receive the first report of violence between partners and see that there are minor children in the family, they are required to inform the SWS.
  • If a complaint is made about child abuse, professionals will also examine whether there is violence between the parents.
  • If there are suspicions that one or both parents are violent towards the child, or if a parent refuses a medical examination that is in the child’s best interests, the examination may take place without the parent’s consent. In such cases, the Attorney General must be informed in writing — ideally before the examination. If that is not possible, they must be informed immediately afterwards and in any case within three days.
Police
Immediate protection and help to report violence and take legal action

How can the Police help me?

The Police’s duty is to ensure the safety and protection of the victim by investigating complaints and prosecuting the perpetrator.

If you are in immediate danger

If you are in danger right now, go to the nearest police station or call 112 or 199 for immediate help. If you cannot contact the Police and you have access to the ELPIS app on your mobile phone, call the Police by pressing the button.

If you are not in immediate danger and want to report the perpetrator

If you are not in immediate danger but have decided it is time to report, you can contact the dedicated Police Family Violence Units, which exist in every district. These units are specialised Police departments for gender-based and domestic violence incidents.

A complaint is when you inform the Police that a crime has occurred or that you are being threatened. A statement is when you officially give your details or testimony about the case. First you report the problem; then the statement helps the Police and the court to investigate it.

During the complaint process you will be asked to give a written statement about the incidents so that the criminal investigation can proceed and the Police can take all other required steps.

You will be asked to describe exactly what happened, when, how long the incident(s) lasted, and similar questions that require you to remember many details. This is not easy, especially with traumatic events. It helps if you have already kept notes about what is happening to you. For example, if you have not done so yet, try to record what you remember of incidents, with as much detail as you can — such as the day, time, description of the incident, and who was present.

Depending on the type of violence, you could gather evidence — for example photographs of bruises or other marks on your body if the violence is physical, relevant medical examinations, or threatening messages you have received on your phone. Bringing this information with you will help you explain to the police officers and give them a clearer picture of what you face. The Police should also be informed if there are other serious concerns that need attention, such as: threats or intimidation that have escalated over time, the perpetrator’s mental health or substance use, weapons in the home, or anything else that might affect your safety further.

You may be asked again about certain details or called at another time for a supplementary statement. This is done so that all information needed to support the case against the suspect can be gathered and justice can be served.

Please note: The Police will investigate the case, which means they will speak to the perpetrator and others in your environment. This means the perpetrator will be informed at some point that you have filed a complaint with the Police. It is very important to speak openly to the Police about how you feel and if you fear for your safety, so that they can protect you.

You should have a safety plan before you go to give a statement at the violence unit.

If you do not want the case to go to court at this stage, you can say so in your statement and explain your reasons. It is your right.

What does the Police do after my complaint?

The Police is expected to:

  • Carry out a Risk Assessment so that, depending on the risk you face, the appropriate order can be issued for your protection/safety. If the Police do not do this, you can request it yourself — it is within your rights as a victim of violence.
  • Inform you / connect you with SPAVO services
  • Inform you / connect you with the Women’s House
  • Suggest that you are placed in a shelter / accommodation together with your children
  • Suggest installing the ELPIS app on your phone
  • Give you a proof of complaint / certificate of your complaint, upon your request. You have the right to request a free translation of the proof of complaint into a language you understand.
  • Provide interpretation / language assistance if you do not understand or do not speak the official language of the Republic, so you can submit your complaint
  • Provide official information if you ask for the progress of your case (e.g. whether proceedings have proceeded and, if not, why not), within your rights as a victim of violence
  • Issue a referral for medical examination or forensic examination in case of sexual violence. The medical examination may take place at any hospital contracted with the General Health System (GESY); forensic examination only at a public hospital
  • Issue a referral for psychological support from Mental Health Services (MHS)
  • Inform the SWS if there are children
  • Inform Children’s House if there is sexual abuse of your child

When you file a complaint, a criminal file is opened; whether criminal proceedings proceed depends on the Police investigation and the instructions of the Legal Service / Attorney General — whether your case goes to criminal court.

If there is a risk that violence may escalate, the Police may take protective measures for you, such as issuing a protective order so the perpetrator cannot approach you, removing them from the home you share, or even arresting them.

After reporting, what do I do, where do I go?

The Police will take specific measures for your safety/protection (and your children’s).

If you do not have assured accommodation outside the home with the perpetrator, you can discuss this with the SWS or SPAVO and they can offer alternatives (e.g. SPAVO accommodation places).

If you want to talk about your relationship, your family, or the difficult situation you are in, other professionals can help — for example Family Counsellors from Social Welfare Services (SWS), counsellors from the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO), or other organisations offering psychological and social support. See here which services are available in your area.

If you have children, remember that even if they are not directly abused — if the violence is directed only at you — they are still affected by the violent environment. By leaving this situation, you protect not only yourself but also your children.

SPAVO
Specialist, confidential support for women experiencing violence, including safe accommodation in shelter

How can SPAVO help me?

SPAVO (Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that aims to support and protect people who experience violence, mainly women. SPAVO runs several support services for victims of violence:

Helpline 1440

The 1440 helpline is free and operates 24 hours a day, all year. When you call, you will speak to a specially trained professional who will ask to hear your story and why you are calling. They will advise you and explain what can happen and which other services can support you.

Find out more

SMS service

If it is not safe to speak aloud, you can send a text message from your mobile to 99984042. Like the 1440 helpline, it is free and operates 24 hours a day, all year.

Find out more

Shelter / accommodation

If you are in immediate danger and it is no longer safe to stay in the same place as the perpetrator, SPAVO can offer you temporary accommodation in a safe environment for you and your children. You will get more details when you contact them by SMS or via 1440.

Find out more

Women’s House

The Women’s House (StG) is in Nicosia and works as a multidisciplinary centre where professionals from different specialties and state officers (clinical psychologists, social workers, police) work under the same roof to support victims of gender-based and domestic violence. All women (and their minor children) and girls (under 18) who are victims of violence have access to the StG, without discrimination, including migrant and refugee women regardless of their migration or refugee status.

Find out more
Other support services
Counselling, legal advice, and other support based on your needs
Where can I get psychological support?
  • From the SPAVO 1440 helpline for immediate / short-term psychological support (free)
  • By arranging an appointment with SPAVO, on your own or with a referral, for a series of in-person sessions (free)
  • The Police and SWS may suggest referral to Mental Health Services (MHS). You are not obliged to go, but it is recommended, because their assessment may strengthen your case in court.
  • If you have GESY, with a referral from your Personal Doctor to a GESY psychologist (GESY fee)
  • By arranging an appointment with NIMA (support/therapy centre), on your own or with a referral, if you experienced sexual abuse in childhood (free)
What should I know about compensation?

As a victim of violence, you have the right to claim compensation from the perpetrator. The perpetrator is liable to pay special and general damages. The court decides the amount based on:

  • the extent and consequences of the violence against you
  • the seriousness and fault of the perpetrator
  • your relationship with the perpetrator (e.g. kinship or authority)

Even if you lose your life, your family members can claim compensation.

Where do I submit the compensation claim and what documents are needed?

You submit the compensation claim to the Director of Social Insurance Services, within two years of the violence, injury, or death.

The application must be accompanied by:

  • a police report
  • a medical certificate
  • other relevant documents

What compensation can I receive?

Under Article 6 of Law 51(I)/1997, you can receive:

  • free medical care in public hospitals up to €1,659
  • sickness benefit in case of temporary inability to work (up to 6 months)
  • disability pension in case of reduced capacity to work
  • pension for dependants if you lose your life (full basic widow’s or orphan’s pension)
  • funeral expenses equal to the funeral benefit

You can claim compensation:

  • directly from the perpetrator at the District Court
  • from the state:
    • first you submit an application to Social Insurance Services
    • if rejected, you can appeal to the Administrative Court
How can I benefit from Legal Aid?

You are entitled to free legal aid:

  • for a compensation claim before the District Court
  • for the issuance of orders, such as:
    • parental responsibility, contact, or child maintenance
    • exclusive use of the home
    • criminal prosecution against the perpetrator

You can submit a written application to the court for free legal aid if:

  • you have certification from a competent service or NGO that you are a victim and are being served by a shelter or Women’s House, or
  • a complaint has been made to the Police and criminal prosecution has been initiated, or
  • the case is serious and the interests of justice require it.

Once approved, you can choose your lawyer from the Bar Association list participating in the free legal aid system. You can choose a lawyer in your district.

Cyprus Bar Association – Legal Assistance Catalogue

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