330 Children in Cyprus Victimized by Sexual Violence in 2024

November 18th marks the European Day for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. According to the CRC Hope for Children Policy Center, there were 469 reported cases of sexual violence against children in Cyprus in 2023. By October 2024, this number had already reached 330.

In 2023, the organization reported 203 cases of cybercrimes, with 106 minors among the victims. As of the end of October this year, police had investigated 161 cases involving 96 minors.

CRC Hope for Children is also involved in the European Group on Sexual Violence Legislation (ECLAG), which urges heads of state to take immediate action to prevent and address sexual violence.

Despoina Michaelidou, the Commissioner for Children's Rights, added that in 2023, 83% of the 785,000 global reports of online child abuse involved children aged 3 to 13 years. Sixteen percent of the victims were aged 14 to 17, and 95% of the victims were girls.

This year, the European Day for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, established by the Council of Europe in 2015, focuses on the impact of new technologies and the associated threats and opportunities for child protection.