Almost 4 in 10 women (36,1%) in Cyprus have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, a percentage that exceeds the EU average (30,7%), while almost 40% have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace, according to an EU survey on gender-based violence (FRA, EIGE, Eurostat, 2024).
These worrying figures demonstrate the need for targeted prevention and support interventions in Cyprus and, in this direction, the new European VOICES program is securing funding of €2,5 million for actions to prevent and combat gender-based violence in Greece and Cyprus, with support for 37 projects in total, 29 in Greece and 8 in Cyprus.
According to an announcement by the NGO Support Center in Cyprus, the interventions will cover the prevention and treatment of domestic and sexual violence, gender-based cyberbullying and other harmful gender-based practices, while the focus is on women and girls with multiple vulnerabilities, survivors of violence.
VOICES is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, the Bodossakis Foundation, the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights and the NGO Support Centre in Cyprus.
Its aim is, in addition to funding actions, to strengthen the organizational capacity and sustainability of Civil Society organizations and their participation in policy formulation.
It is noted that the launch event in Cyprus took place on April 3, 2026 at the Strovolos Cultural Center, with an open discussion and a workshop on writing applications for the OKoIP.
In addition, the program includes training, mentoring, workshops, networking, awareness-raising and advocacy actions.
The Bodossakis Foundation (Coordinator), in partnership with the NGO Support Center (Partner) in Cyprus and the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights (Partner), announces the open call for proposals from Civil Society organizations "Prevention and combating various forms of gender-based violence".
Through the call, approximately 37 projects will be supported, of which 29 in Greece and 8 in Cyprus, aiming to implement actions to combat all forms of gender-based violence, such as preventing and addressing domestic and sexual violence, gender-based cyberbullying, as well as harmful practices related to gender-based violence.
Interested organizations can submit their applications until Wednesday, July 1, 2026, through the Bodossakis Foundation platform.
