Nicosia: Nearly 4 in 10 women (36.1%) in Cyprus have experienced physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, a rate that exceeds the EU average (30.7%), while nearly 40% have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace, according to an EU survey on gender-based violence.
According to Cyprus News Agency, these alarming figures highlight the need for targeted prevention and support interventions in Cyprus. In this direction, the new European program VOICES secures £2.5 million in funding for actions to prevent and combat gender-based violence in Greece and Cyprus, supporting a total of 37 projects, 29 in Greece and 8 in Cyprus.
According to a press release by the NGO Support Centre in Cyprus, the interventions will cover the prevention and response to domestic and sexual violence, gender-based cyber violence, and other harmful practices related to gender. The focus is on women and girls with multiple vulnerabilities, as well as survivors of violence.
Additionally, the program includes training sessions, mentoring, workshops, networking activities, awareness-raising initiatives, and advocacy actions.