By Evie Andreou
More and more women are forced to return to abusive husbands because they cannot afford to fend for themselves, the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO) on Tuesday at the start of a 16-day campaign against domestic violence.
According to SPAVO between 2009 and 2010, 11 per cent of women returned to their husbands, while over the next two years, the percentage rose to 13 per cent.
Meanwhile, consultants who work at the organisation said over the last two years, a larger percentage of women seeking refuge at the shelter return home since they are financially dependent on their partners and they cannot provide for themselves and their children.
“We are still gathering data for the last two years but they will be a sad evidence of these women’s situation – more women chose to return home than live on their own,” programmes officer at SPAVO Marios Nicolaou said.
He said the number or shelter requests has also declined as women realise that once they leave the shelter they will be pretty much on their own.
“The state unfortunately has discontinued a significant number of allowances that help these women,” Nicolaou said.
SPAVO also called for better cooperation between relevant services to helps meet the needs of these women.
In September work began on a new shelter that will offer refuge to women and their children with funds from the government, SPAVO and Norway Grants, head of SPAVO Kiki Poyadji said.
“The centre is designed is such a way to provide the biggest possible support to women and their children through educational and other support programmes,” Poyadji said.
She also said that since September the organisation is operating a second shelter for women and children in Paphos.
During the first six months of 2014, SPAVO dealt with 812 incidents, including over 300 new cases, while 102 involved minors. In 35 incidents, the victims were taken to a shelter for their protection.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said “the government condemns every form of violence and supports with fervour the greater protection of victims”.
For that reason, he added, it has signed the Convention of Istanbul against domestic and gender violence.
The campaign is running simultaneously around the world and was launched on Tuesday, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will end on December 10, the International Day of Human Rights.
SPAVO has also announced the launch of TV spots with the participation of popular Cypriot actors to help raise awareness of domestic violence, to encourage victims to speak up and society to be more involved and take action when they suspect domestic violence.
Poyadji said the organisation has made an appeal for two cars, one for Nicosia and one for Paphos.
n The SPAVO helpline – 1440 – operates every day from 8am to 10pm on weekdays and 10am to 10pm at the weekend
