This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Cyprus during the 2023–2024 data collection exercise with the support of national data providers and national researchers.
The list of 13 indicators developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the purposes of this data collection exercise is presented in Annex 1.
The data collected in other countries and the methodological report are published in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database.
Key findings of EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise
The figure below outlines the main findings from EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Cyprus.
FIGURE 1Main findings
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Victims of domestic violence
- Roughly 3 out of 4 victims of domestic violence are women (76 % in 2022)
- Physical violence is the most common form of domestic violence recorded by police each year.
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Femicide
- Between the years 2014 and 2022, 43 women victims of homicide by any perpetrator were recorded by police.
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Rape
- In 2022, 57 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator were recorded by police in Cyprus.
Domestic violence
EIGE defines domestic violence as ‘all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, irrespective of biological or legal family ties, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim’.
In Cyprus, The Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and Related Matters Law, 2021 criminalises domestic violence. It criminalises any ‘act, omission or behaviour of a person which causes harm to a member of his/her family and includes violence used for the purpose of sexual intercourse without the consent of the victim as well as restricting the victim’s liberty.’ Violence against women by a member of the victim’s family is also criminalised, regardless of whether the victim and perpetrator currently or have in the past lived in the same household.
The data on domestic violence collected in Cyprus refers to violence between family members and intimate partners.
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, most victims of domestic violence in Cyprus are women (76 %). In 2022, 2,614 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police (out of 3,435 total victims).
Figure 2 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
Between 2019 and 2022, the annual number of women victims of domestic violence recorded by police increased notably (from 933 in 2019 to 2,614 in 2022). This increase may be attributed to various social and institutional factors.
In many Member States, lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a spike in domestic violence. In Cyprus, 82 % of women surveyed believe that there was an increase in violence against women in the country during the pandemic (according to 2022 data).
The police data recorded in Cyprus sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. In addition, the findings of the EU survey on gender-based violence (EU-GBV survey) show that 30 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator during adulthood.
Victims of specific forms of domestic violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Cyprus shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological and sexual domestic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-6). However, sex disaggregated data is not available on these specific forms of violence in Cyprus.
EIGE also requested data on victims of economic violence (Indicator 7) during the data collection exercise, however, data on economic violence is not available in Cyprus.
Figure 3 Annual number of total victims of physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence (Indicators 4-6), 2014-2022
Intentional homicide: Number of women killed
EIGE defines femicide as ‘killing of women and girls because of their gender’. It is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence. EIGE’s femicide classification framework distinguishes between killings committed by intimate partners and family members and other forms of femicide, which are less common.
In Cyprus, a legal definition of femicide was introduced in 2022 through amendments to The Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and Related Matters Law, 2021. It establishes that ‘any person who, with an unlawful act or omission, causes the death of a woman, is guilty of the offence of femicide and is liable to life imprisonment’. The law considers various aggravating factors, including domestic violence, reasons of honour, female genital mutilation, and motives based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion.
The data presented in this factsheet refers to homicide, as official statistics on femicide are not yet available in Cyprus.
Between 2014 and 2022, 43 women victims of homicide were recorded by police in Cyprus. In 2020, all 5 women victims of homicide recorded by police were killed by domestic perpetrators or partners.
Figure 4 Annual number of female victims of homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2014-2022
Most femicide victims experience non-lethal forms of gender-based violence before they are killed. Femicide is often the culmination of a pattern of abuse.
According to the EU-GBV survey, women victims of intimate partner violence experience significant consequences to their mental and physical wellbeing. However, only 15 % of victims of intimate partner violence in Cyprus reported the violence to the police. For these reasons, authorities should raise awareness of the ‘warning sings’ of femicide and enhance access to support services for victims.
Rape: Number of women victims
EIGE defines rape as ‘sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral, through the use of object or body parts, without consent, using force, coercion or by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the victim’.
In Cyprus, Section 144 of the Criminal Code states that ‘any person who has unlawful [sexual intercourse with] a female, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or fear of bodily harm, or, in the case of a married woman, by impersonating her husband, is guilty of the felony termed rape’.
In 2022, the police recorded 57 women victims of rape committed by any perpetrator. Throughout the years, the annual number of rape victims recorded has increased (from 16 in 2019 to 57 in 2022). However, as with the data on victims of domestic violence, fluctuations between years can be attributed to various social and institutional factors and do not necessarily imply that violence has worsened in the country over time.
Figure 5 Annual number of female victims of rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2018-2022
Data on sexual violence by domestic perpetrators has been shared under Indicator 6 in the section ‘Victims of specific forms of domestic violence’.
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Cyprus underscore the persistent threat of domestic violence to the safety and well-being of women and girls.
The collection of robust administrative data on intimate partner violence and domestic violence is essential to ensure effective policymaking, resource allocation, and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Cyprus, police data is available on victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on victims of specific forms of domestic violence, including physical, psychological, and sexual violence. However, data has not been retrieved specifically on victims or perpetrators of intimate partner violence.
Similarly, while data is available on women victims of homicide by any perpetrator, there is no comprehensive data for all years on victims killed specifically by domestic perpetrators or intimate partners. The data on rape is even more limited. EIGE managed to retrieve data on rape victims, but not specifically on those raped by intimate partners or domestic perpetrators.
Regarding the justice sector, data is not available on protection orders for victims of violence, or perpetrators convicted for their crimes. This makes it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women.
In May 2024, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Article 44 establishes that Member States must work with EIGE to collect administrative data on these forms of violence and must adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to collect comprehensive, reliable data on violence against women and domestic violence.
Further details on the data collected during EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise are available in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database and on its website.
Annexes
Annex 1: List of EIGE’s 13 indicators on intimate partner violence and domestic violence