Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades inaugurated on Wednesday, in Nicosia, the first house for children who have been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation, pointing out the government’s particular interest and continuous commitment in the respect of children’s human rights and the human rights in general.
It is the third such house which operates in Europe and will provide services of psychological support and social rehabilitation to these children. It will be run by the non-governmental organization “Hope for Children” who will employ six professionals and two supervising psychologists. The building will house officers from state services which deal with the cases of sexually abused children and the whole project will be financed by the Social Welfare Services. The house has been designed on the basis of the “Barnahus” model, the Children’s House in Iceland which is a child – friendly, interdisciplinary and multiagency centre whereby different professionals work under one roof in investigating suspected child sexual abuse cases and providing appropriate support for child victims.
Anastasiades stressed in his speech that the state has the moral responsibility and obligation to do its utmost to address and combat the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, ensuring that all children grow up in conditions of safety. He also elaborated on the measures taken by the government on this issue, such as the adoption of the National Strategy for the protection of children from sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child pornography.
On her part, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly PACE), Cypriot MP Stella Kyriakides said that this house constitutes a European jewel and that PACE recognizes the political will and determination of the Cyprus government to address this crime against children.
Anastasia Papadopoulou, the Special Adviser of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee which drafted the National Strategy for the protection of children from sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child pornography, said that no child must feel helpless and that the primary aim must be to support these children and offer them the right treatments.
In a written statement “Hope for Children” Director General Joseph Varughese said that this is an innovative project for Cyprus which is of utmost importance for the organisation.
