The "ELPIS" application, designed specifically for victims of domestic violence who are at increased risk of violence and need to contact the Police immediately, without being noticed by the perpetrator, will be launched in the next few days, announced the Monday the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis, noting that this is an important development.
He said that it is expected that within the first half of the new year the application will be fully operational and will serve victims of violence, providing them with security and protection throughout the 24 hours.
In his greeting at a Police Day on "Human Rights: Dignity, Justice and Equality", on the occasion of December 10, which is celebrated every year as World Human Rights Day, Mr. Hartsiotis said that the primary goal of the Government is the safety of the citizen with respect for the constitutionally guaranteed rights of freedom and security.
He pointed out that for this reason the Government strengthened and continues to strengthen the operational capacity of the Police to prevent and fight crime and protect the citizen with tangible positive results.
"We have created in the Police a coherent network with specialized organizational structures and well-trained personnel, which with the right tools and means successfully confronts multiple forms of violence and the daily challenges of fighting crime," he said.
The Minister mentioned that the cooperation with the citizens and the promotion of the preventive participatory anti-crime policy is highlighted through the recent decision of the Council of Ministers for the pilot implementation of the first Local Council for the Prevention of Delinquency in the Municipality of Limassol.
He noted the important institutional intersection with the creation of a separate Directorate in the Ministry of Justice and Public Order with the responsibility of horizontal and continuous monitoring of the issues and developments related to the implementation of human rights by all state authorities on the basis of the fulfillment of our obligations towards of European and international organizations.
Mr. Hartsiotis said that top among the Government's priorities is the prevention and fight against violence against women. In recent years, he said, significant legislation has been drafted and passed that criminalizes gender-based violence, femicide, sexism, online sexism, harassment and stalking.
He mentioned that significant improvements have also been made to the Criminal Code, where the definition of the offense of rape has been completely modernized, in accordance with European and international human rights conventions. He added that the operation of the multi-thematic Women's House, which co-houses professionals of all specialties and works with the aim of providing comprehensive support, protection and guidance services to victims of gender violence and their minor children, is recorded as an important step forward.
The Minister said that the special Units that operate on a pan-Cypriot basis in the Police for handling cases of domestic violence continue to work intensively, while at the same time he noted that the National Coordinating Body for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women continues to implement prevention and information actions of professionals and civil society, which derive from the National Strategy and the National Action Plan for Prevention and Combat of Violence against Women 2023-2028. So far, 60 health professionals have been trained and it is expected that more than 80 teachers will be trained on a Cypriot basis.
The Minister said that the recent passing of the law which provides for the provision of free legal aid to victims of gender and domestic violence is considered particularly important.
He also referred to the Memorandum of Cooperation that he signed with the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family of Greece, with the aim of exchanging know-how and expertise and developing joint actions in the field of preventing and combating gender-based violence.
Mr. Hartsiotis then stated that with the aim of establishing a new modern child-friendly justice system, a law was passed and entered into force, which provides for alternative ways of treating juvenile offenders.
He explained that the procedures provided for in the legislation are mainly out-of-court and the child's interest is primarily taken into account as each child receives a specialized, individualized approach and support from an interdisciplinary team, with the aim of their smooth social reintegration and avoiding the repetition of delinquent behavior.
He said that the criminal prosecution of the child and especially his detention are the last measure and are applied only if the extrajudicial procedures or the alternative measures provided for by the Law have not been effective. In exceptional cases of criminal prosecution of a child, as he said, the case is heard by a special court for children.
Mr. Hartsiotis noted that the detention of children is the last option and if this is still done, this child will be held in a special detention area outside of prisons, which will have a reformative, educational, therapeutic and welfare character. That space, he said, should start operating no later than January 1, 2026, according to the law.
He pointed out that the Ministry is making significant efforts to achieve this goal within the schedule and for this reason, in collaboration with the Department of Law of the University of Cyprus, proceeded to prepare a complete modern Regulatory Framework for the operation of the site. The Draft Regulations were submitted to the House of Representatives, its debate in the Parliamentary Legal Committee began in October 2024 and is ongoing.
"After the approval of the Regulations by the Parliament, we will immediately proceed with the announcement of a public tender for the assignment of the operation of the space to the private sector. Safeguarding the area and the children will be the responsibility of the state," he said.
At the same time, the Council of Ministers decided to approve the use and exploitation of the Detention Area for Prohibited Immigrants in Mennogeia (HOKAM), after the completion of the new closed Pre-Departure Center in the Limnes area for the creation of a detention area for children and police detention centers for children, assuming that they will be all suitable remodeling and improvement works. The aim, said the Minister, is for this space to be ready for operation by January 1, 2026 at the latest.
Mr. Hartsiotis then said that another very important institution is the curator's institution, which essentially functions as the link between the Police and other involved Services, e.g. YKE, YPSY, and with the child's parents or guardians.
The role of the proctor, he explained, is to ensure that children in conflict with the law enjoy the rights provided by the law in all extrajudicial proceedings, from the stage of arrest to the implementation of the Decriminalization Program, in which he has an active role.
He said that initially, until the completion of the required procedures, the role of curators had been taken over by police officers, who were trained for this purpose, while from May 10 this year the Ministry assigned this work to a private company and the provisions of the contract as well of the Children in Conflict Act of 2021 are satisfactorily implemented. "In fact, as I have been informed, since the beginning of the contract until today, the bailiffs have handled approximately 360 cases, all over Cyprus," he said.
The Chief of Police, Themistos Arnaoutis, in his greeting at the event said, among other things, that human rights are not a privilege of anyone and are not an optional choice, nor can they be suspended or deactivated at will, but constitute a legal and moral obligation a rule of law.
Elsewhere, he said that the Police, realizing their share of responsibility, set as their immediate priority the prevention and fight against crime and the strengthening of the feeling of security, since human rights can only flourish in conditions of security and peace.
He then referred to the actions of the Force to achieve its goals and fulfill its obligations: creation of specialized offices, which carry out an extremely important work in defending the rights of vulnerable persons, preparation and dissemination of manuals and circulars concerning a wide range of human rights, implementation of improvement projects in police detention centers to secure the rights of persons in custody, development of cooperation with society citizens and with all government agencies and independent authorities.
Undoubtedly, the Chief of Police said, all the actions demonstrate the dedication and commitment of the Police to contribute to the achievement of the common goal of full respect for human rights which are the cornerstone of a rule of law.
He assured that the Police will continue and intensify its actions resolutely and systematically by actively participating in the universal efforts made by all relevant agencies.
The Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou-Lottidis, said that the police force is the daily defender of human rights and is the one that should balance the rights of the perpetrator and the victim and also intervene where it deems necessary using the necessary and the corresponding measure for the protection of a legal good.
He noted that the development of public trust in the Police is inextricably linked to the approach of the behavior of its members to citizens, especially in terms of the protection and respect of their rights.
She assured that her Office will continue to support the provision of training to members of the Police in matters related to human rights and discrimination.
"In this context, it is appropriate to emphasize that our primary obligation as a State is to remain alert to the multifaceted, complex and complex parameters of the protection of human rights with a view to respecting human dignity and eliminating any discrimination," he said.
He emphasized that the main concern of the institution he serves is to ensure that human rights are practically respected and apply to everyone. "December 10 reminds us that respecting human value and dignity, creating networks of solidarity and cultivating a culture of respect for all people must remain the goals of all of us," he concluded.
Source: KYPE
