An awareness campaign for the protection of children and teenagers in Cyprus against sexual abuse was launched by “FONI” on 27 November. The Council’s website was also presented on the same occasion. At the formal event, which was held at the New Stage of the Cyprus Theatre Organization, the President of the Republic announced the creation of support services for adults who have experienced sexual abuse and exploitation as children, in an effort to reinforce the actions of “Foni”.
Through its website, www.foni.org.cy and the awareness campaign targeting young people, Council Foni, which has been entrusted with the implementation of the National Strategy for combatting sexual abuse and exploitation of children and child pornography, now has its own Voice. The aims are to keep young people informed, raise awareness among parents, teachers and society as a whole, but above all help and support the victims of this heinous crime to break the barriers of silence.
Foni’s awareness campaign is addressed to teenagers themselves, encouraging them to ask, learn and denounce, while conveying the message that they are no longer alone. Help is available. All they need to do is reach out.
In analyzing the mission, the objectives and the actions of “Foni”, the Chairperson of the Council, Ms Anastasia Papadopoulou, expressed the Council’s eagerness to become a catalyst in combatting and eliminating this social phenomenon. “Individual voices are not enough” she pointed out and added: “A good legislative framework is not enough. Merely repeating the stereotyped idea that these crimes deserve zero tolerance is not enough. We must act proactively. We must anticipate and protect. Equip everyone with the means to fight this and, above all, talk to our children, empower them, listen to them. And we need to do this together: The Government, the semi-governmental sector, non-governmental organizations, the private sector. This is the Voice of the National Strategy. Everyone has their own role, their place, their responsibility. Everyone has a voice... It doesn't matter if it's 1 in 5 children, 1 in 4 or 1 in 100. One is what matters. Even one. Even one voice.”
In welcoming the efforts of Foni to prevent, inform and address the phenomenon of child sexual abuse and exploitation, the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, announced the Government’s decision to open a support and treatment center operating at multiple levels for adults who have experienced sexual abuse and exploitation as children and offering services to combat and prevent the phenomenon. As he said: “the center will provide psychological, social, legal and counselling support to both the individual and their supportive environment.”
Referring to the implementation of the National Strategy and to the actions of Council Foni in particular, the President of the Republic underlined that “this is the first comprehensive campaign in our country, aimed at strengthening protective and preventive actions to support adolescents and is indicative of the key measures taken jointly by the public and private sectors, to inform and raise public awareness”.
This effort, he said, has not gone unnoticed in Europe. “The Council of Europe considers our country to be a prime example in this field and endorses the targeted measures we have taken. It is with great satisfaction that, as I am informed, the competent Committee of the Council of Europe, responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention, has decided to hold a meeting in Cyprus in 2019, in recognition of the significant work and progress Cyprus has achieved.”
The event was attended by ministers, leaders and representatives of political parties, independent government officials, members of various institutions and voluntary organizations, economic operators and representatives of the media.