In order to provide the best possible support to children who are victims of sexual abuse or exploitation, the Children's Home was inaugurated today in Nicosia, by the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis, which will provide services for the psychological and social rehabilitation of these children. , and which will house specialists from the relevant government agencies, as well as other professionals. This is the third such house operating in a European country. The management and operation of the house has been undertaken by the non-governmental organization "Hope for Children" and the house in which it is housed is a donation of the Association of Greek Ladies "Union".
Speaking at the inauguration, which was attended by Ministers, MPs, the Mayor of Nicosia, the Chief of Police and other officials, President Anastasiadis said that the elimination of sexual abuse and exploitation of children would be a wishful thinking, but while still When such incidents occur, the state undoubtedly has a moral responsibility, but also an obligation to do everything possible to deal with and combat them, while ensuring that all children can grow up in conditions of security and safety.
President Anastasiadis said that this project is part of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography and assured, as he noted, it is evident in the current government work, for the special interest and continuous commitment to respect for children's rights and human rights in general.
He pointed out that the adoption of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography, the National Strategy for the Rights of the Child, the proposal of the National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of Violence in Schools, which approved today by the Council of Ministers, but also a number of other initiatives, aiming at issues concerning children, proposing to take specific measures, take action and implement them.
In this way, a huge gap is filled regarding the provision of protection, support and all possible assistance, in every way and at every stage to children, as vulnerable members of civil society, he said.
The President of the Republic noted that the Children's Home is only the third to be established in a European country and houses for the first time in Cyprus all the services involved in dealing with cases of sexual abuse, aiming at the direct access of children - victims of sexual abuse - to necessary services staffed by a team of specialized associates and, through a protected framework, to reduce any chance of re-injury and stigmatization.
In this way, any fears and doubts about the reporting of such incidents are dealt with at the same time, he underlined.
He said that the Children's Home is a project "which clearly shows the priority we have set for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child and in particular to ensure a broader and multilevel framework of global support to any child subject to violence."
He referred to the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) from Cyprus and noted that immediately after its entry into force, the Council of Ministers in July 2015 decided to establish Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance Zeta Aimilianidou, and the participation of the Ministers of Education and Culture Costas Kadis, Health George Pamporidis and Justice and Public Order Ionas Nikolaou.
He added that the Council of Ministers also decided to appoint Ms. Anastasia Papadopoulou to the position of Special Adviser of this Committee on the recommendation of the Minister of Labor and with his immediate acceptance, and thanked Ms. Papadopoulou who immediately completed the mission. this "and for its contribution to achieving what we have all achieved together today"
He pointed out that this Commission soon formulated the National Strategy for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography and that the adoption of the legal framework provided for in the National Strategy, as well as the adoption of the Strategy in March 2016 by the Council of Ministers, are the first comprehensive national strategy to combat these crimes against children, which unfortunately we have been facing for decades.
At the same time, we are creating the conditions for our country to become one of the leaders of the European Union in dealing with these phenomena, said the President of the Republic, who praised the efficiency, method and work produced by the Ministerial Committee. , with the assistance of Special Adviser Anastasia Papadopoulou on the global approach to child protection.
He also said that in 2016 the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance, after announcing a relevant tender, assigned the management of the "Children's Home" to the non-governmental organization "Hope For Children", in direct and universal cooperation with the Social Welfare Services. which fully fund the project.
President Anastasiadis thanked the Association of Greek Ladies "Union" for the donation of the building for housing the House, noting that this proceeded to the co-financing of the renovation and landscaping of the house. He also made special mention of Lia Tseriotou, who was the President of the Association for years and whose name is inextricably linked to a number of charitable works, as he noted.
In her speech, the President of KSSE and Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Stella Kyriakidou said that this house is a European jewel for our country. He also noted that the decision to use this house to house the first Children's Home in Cyprus was aimed at protecting children victims of sexual abuse.
Referring to the ratification of the Lanzarote Convention and the political decisions of the current Government for the creation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Child Pornography and the first Home for the Child, Ms. Kyriakidou said that as President of the KSSE wants to express the recognition of the Convention for the essential political will and determination to tackle this crime against children.
He also expressed the hope that this home would help substantially protect and properly treat child victims.
For her part, Anastasia Papadopoulou in her speech said that the Home for the Child is the answer to the unnecessary suffering and re-victimization of child victims of sexual abuse, the place where the child finally comes into focus and the procedures serve this and not the other way around. the place where the investigation of the crime will be done multidisciplinary with the primary goal of support and treatment and not just the legal process. He also stressed that no child should ever feel helpless again.
The "Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center will staff the home with six professionals and two external partners - supervising psychologists. The supervision and financing of the operation of the House will have the Social Welfare Services of the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance. The house will house services from the Police, Social Welfare Services, Mental Health Services and Medical Services.
The Children's Home is designed based on the Icelandic model "Barnahus" and focuses on the interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, ensuring cooperation between the various bodies (police, judiciary, social and medical services) in a child-friendly environment, which offers holistic services for the child and his family under one roof.
According to an announcement by Hope For Children, the General Director of the organization Joseph Varughese stated that this innovative project for the Cypriot data is of the utmost importance for the Organization as it is part of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the fight against sexual harassment. child abuse and exploitation and child pornography ”