Parliamentary committee addresses rise in domestic violence in Cyprus

On July 6, 2026, the Cypriot parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Equal Opportunities held an emergency meeting following a recent attempted femicide in Limassol. Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis reported that 18,409 domestic violence cases were recorded between 2021 and the first half of 2026. Official data indicate these reports led to 3,674 arrests, 2,858 restraining orders, and 373 court protection orders. Eleni Nikolaou of the police's Vulnerable Persons subdivision noted that about 3,000 complaints are received annually, with criminal files opened in 45% of cases. Justice Minister Constantinos Fytiris emphasized the need for rapid authority responses and announced plans to introduce mandatory psychometric testing for police officers regarding weapon possession. Additionally, Social Welfare Services highlighted figures from the Women's House, which sheltered 277 victims in 2022, 237 in 2023, and 236 in 2024. The committee is scheduled to reconvene in late August or early September to further evaluate current state mechanisms and support services.