Nicosia: One in three women in Europe has suffered some form of violence, and one in five women has turned to social or other organizations for support, while only one in eight women reported the incident to the police, Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis, announced Monday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, these statements were made during a press conference for an island-wide campaign aimed at preventing and combating sexism.
Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting equality between women and men, free from stereotypes and prejudices. The national coordinating body is actively promoting actions and campaigns to raise awareness, aiming to address the issue effectively. Hartsiotis noted that victims not only suffer physical and psychological harm but also face economic and social repercussions due to sexism.
He highlighted the legal framework in place that categorizes sexism as a criminal offense and outlined the campaign’s role in providing information to stakeholders and support services for victims of domestic and gender-based violence. He urged the media to support and promote the campaign, emphasizing the recent establishment of a Committee to manage incidents of sexism and gender-based violence.
Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, referenced a 2017 survey by Amnesty International, which indicated that 46% of women who experienced online abuse identified it as misogynistic or sexist. She noted that sexism creates a hostile environment and stated that no person should fall victim to such discrimination.
Christodoulou also mentioned EU data showing an increase in online violence and sexism since 2014 and cited a 2020 UNESCO survey indicating that 73% of women journalists faced online abuse. The Commissioner revealed that her office is monitoring the implementation of laws against sexism, with two complaints currently under review by the Law Office.
In the context of Cyprus’ upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, the Ministry of Justice and Public Order has prioritized addressing online violence against girls aged 13-18. George Pittas, creative director of CONTACT advertising agency, introduced the campaign to the press.