Commissioner for Children's Rights condemns xenophobic rhetoric following school assault

On November 3, 2026, an 11-year-old girl was reportedly assaulted by four classmates at a primary school in Nicosia, Cyprus. Following the incident, the political party ELAM issued a statement on November 4 linking the violence to irregular migration and alleging that the "culture" of migrant children threatens local society. This prompted a strong rebuke from the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Elena Pericleous, who on November 9 condemned the party’s rhetoric as xenophobic and criticized the collective targeting of children based on their national or ethnic background.

Pericleous emphasized that school violence is a complex, multifactorial issue that must be addressed through the protection of victims and full investigation, rather than by fostering social stigma or xenophobia. She stressed that no child should be held responsible for the actions of others due to their origin. Official data from 2024–2025 recorded 510 incidents of school violence across 98 schools, while a spring 2026 survey indicated that 95% of surveyed teachers believe such incidents are increasing.

ELAM has since responded by demanding the Commissioner’s resignation, accusing her of bias and claiming that her office failed to treat the case with the same urgency as incidents involving Greek-Cypriot pupils. The investigation into the original assault remains an ongoing priority for school authorities and the police.