No abortion statistics in Cyprus

THERE are no statistics or figures on abortions in Cyprus, the House Human Rights Committee found yesterday.

According to Committee Chairman Sophocles Fyttis of DIKO, this was indicative of the extent of the problem.

The Committee continued discussing the matter after last week’s session revealed the lack of a proper legal system for women who wish to terminate their pregnancies. This results in women putting their lives and fertility at risk by using illegal methods, such as abortion pills.

“Everyone is admitting that there is a need for special support for these women, both before, after and during such operations,” Fyttis said.

“It was suggested that the state create a special centre, where underage women could go and seek protection until they give birth, and if they wished, they could keep their baby or give it up for adoption.”

According to Fyttis, a foetus has human rights from the moment it is conceived and the Committee has requested specifications by the Attorney-general, which are expected to be answered next Tuesday.

Spokesmen from the Health and Education Ministries, the Social Welfare Services, Cyprus Gynaecology Clinic, National Bioethics Committee and Cyprus Family Planning Association were among those invited to yesterday’s meeting.

“A large number of questions were posed by fellow MPs and along with those submitted last Tuesday, they are expected to be answered in next week’s meeting,” Fyttis explained.

The main problem spotted at yesterday’s meeting was the lack of proper sex education in schools. “The Education Ministry informed us that this lesson is taught for just a few hours each month and it seems that the children are embarrassed to asked questions, or the lessons are on such a scientific level that children are finding them hard to understand,” said Fyttis.

A step in the right direction, he added, is being taken by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Organisation, which is organising sex education seminars, which are attended by a large number of lyceum pupils with their parents’ consent.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.