Paphos: The government of Cyprus, under the leadership of President Nicos Christodoulides, firmly believes that protecting children goes beyond policy formulation and it is a moral responsibility and a measure of our society’s maturity, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said Tuesday, delivering a speech on behalf of the President at Eurochild’s 2026 Conference ‘Social Protection Systems’.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Conference took place in the coastal town of Paphos, in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Minister noted that across Europe, there are still significant gaps: preventive services are insufficient, vulnerable groups face barriers in accessing support, and coordination between sectors such as education, health, justice, and social welfare is often inadequate.
“These challenges require collective responsibility and coordinated solutions. Our shared compass remains the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This landmark Convention obliges us not only to protect children from harm, but to ensure their right to participation, development, and non-discrimination. Social protection systems must therefore be rights-based, inclusive, and centred on the best interests of the child,” she stated.
Michaelidou emphasized that in Cyprus, safeguarding children’s rights is supported by robust institutional frameworks and praised the role of the Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights and the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Children. She highlighted that the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth recognizes that education systems are central to social protection, with schools often being the first place where signs of vulnerability become visible, whether related to poverty, domestic violence, mental health challenges, or social exclusion.
“The European framework provides us with direction. The 2024 Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems and the European Child Guarantee call for prevention, family- and community-based care, equal access to services, and cross-sectoral coordination. These are not merely policy documents, they are calls for transformation,” she added.
She further noted that Cyprus is committed to reinforcing preventive approaches, strengthening family- and community-based support, and ensuring equal access to quality services for all children. She also mentioned the role of Cyprus Children’s Parliament, which offers children a structured platform to express their views and influence decision-making processes.
“Social protection systems must move beyond reactive responses. They must prioritise early intervention, invest in trained professionals, ensure adequate resources, and eliminate discrimination in access to services. Above all, they must uphold the dignity of every child,” she concluded.
The Minister affirmed that Cyprus is ready to actively contribute to advancing integrated, rights-based, and inclusive social protection systems at both national and European levels.