You are considered the victim of a crime if you have suffered harm (e.g. if you have been injured or if your personal property has been damaged or stolen, etc.) as a result of an incident which constitutes an offence according to national law. According to the law, you have certain individual rights as a victim of a crime before, during and after the proceedings.
In Cyprus, criminal proceedings begin with a police inquiry into the crime. Once the inquiry is finished, the case is referred to the Attorney-General of the Republic who decides whether to initiate criminal proceedings. If there is sufficient evidence against the alleged perpetrator, the Attorney-General will refer the case to court for trial. Once it has examined the evidence gathered, the court will decide whether the defendant is guilty and either sentence or acquit him/her.
1 - My rights as a victim of crime
2 - Reporting a crime and my rights during the investigation or trial
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
The Police will inform you, without undue delay, of your right to obtain the following information on:
If you are resident in another Member State, the Cyprus Police will obtain a deposition from you right after you report the crime, in order to limit difficulties pertaining to how the procedure is organised.
If the crime was committed in the Republic of Cyprus and you are resident in another Member State, you can report it to the competent authorities of your Member State of residence, in so far as you are unable - or, in the case of a felony - unwilling to do so in Cyprus.
If you file a complaint for a crime committed in another EU Member State to the Cyprus Police, the latter must forward such complaint to the competent authority of the Member State where the crime was committed, where it does not have jurisdiction to initiate proceedings.
When you report a crime to the Police, you will obtain the following information, depending on what stage of the procedure your complaint is at:
If you wish to report a crime but you are unable to understand or speak Greek, you can file a complaint in a language you do understand, with the necessary linguistic assistance.
Furthermore, the Police must ensure that you are offered:
Moreover, if you are a minor, information will be supplied to you by the Social Welfare Services (through an interpreter, where necessary) in a language which you understand and with due regard to your age and maturity level. If you are a person with a disability, you will receive information in a way you can understand (e.g. in sign language).
The following organisations provide victim support services:
The Social Welfare Services of the Ministry of Employment, Welfare and Social Security offer support to vulnerable groups, including victims of crime, by:
The Police will refer you to governmental or other support and assistance services, if this is considered necessary, and will inform you about the existing services mentioned above:
Police officers must comply with the requirements of the Constitution, the applicable legislation and the Police Code of Conduct, which ensure that your privacy and family life will be respected and your personal data adequately protected.
According to the law, your name and the contents of your deposition may under no circumstances be publicised or howsoever disclosed.
Data processing is governed by special legislation, which ensures the protection of your personal data.
Yes. After you file a complaint with the Police, the Social Welfare Services will ensure that you are offered free support services, according to your needs, including services from NGOs capable of offering special support.
The Police will take all steps necessary to protect your safety, especially where special protection needs are established. Thus, depending on the nature/circumstances of the criminal offence, your personal situation and any special protection needs, specific protection measures may be applied in various phases of the criminal proceedings, as follows:
(1) Victim integration in witness protection schemes, subject to supervision and control by the Attorney General
By decision of the Attorney General, you may be integrated in a witness protection scheme, involving Police measures to protect your personal safety as well as the safety of your family, where necessary.
(2) Victim protection during criminal investigation:
During the criminal investigation:
(3) Right to protection of victims with specific protection needs during criminal proceedings:
If you are identified as a victim with specific protection needs, the following options are available to you:
In particular:
If you are a victim of domestic violence:
If you are an underage victim of sexual abuse:
If you are a victim of human trafficking and exploitation:
The Police are primarily responsible for offering you protection. If necessary, the Police will cooperate with other competent bodies of the public or private sector to ensure that you are effectively protected.
The Police will assess your case in order to:
(a) identify any specific protection needs, and
(b) determine whether and to what extent you would benefit from special measures in the course of the criminal proceedings due to your particular vulnerability to secondary and repeat victimisation, intimidation and retaliation.
An individual assessment shall be carried out with your close involvement and shall take into account your wishes, including your wish not to benefit from special measures.
Individual assessment includes an assessment of your exposure to the risk of secondary and repeat victimisation, so as to exclude all possibility of you sustaining secondary and/or repeat victimisation by the bodies of criminal justice.
Very vulnerable victims are offered the following types of protection:
(1) Victim integration in witness protection schemes, subject to supervision and control by the Attorney General.
By decision of the Attorney General, you may be integrated in a witness protection scheme, involving Police measures to protect your personal safety as well as the safety of your family, where necessary.
(2) Victim protection during criminal investigation:
During the criminal investigation:
(3) Protection of victims with specific protection needs during criminal proceedings:
If you are identified as a victim with specific protection needs, the following are available to you:
If you are a minor, your best interests are protected, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration your age, maturity level, views, needs and concerns.
As a minor you have some additional rights:
During interviews, you may be accompanied by your legal representative or by an adult of your choice, unless a reasoned decision has been made to the contrary with respect to that person.
Interviews will be carried out:
You may seek support from the following victim support services:
The law allows you to file a claim for damages against the offender. You may also address the Social Welfare Services to obtain information about your right to claim damages.
You may seek support from the following victim support services:
You may seek support from the following victim support services:
In Cyprus there is no legislative framework governing mediation services.
The legislation governing your rights is
You can access the legislation governing your rights through the Cyprus Bar Association website.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
You may file your complaint at any Police Station. The Police will investigate your case as soon as you file a formal complaint and provide a written deposition.
You can obtain information on the progress of your case from the Police officer (investigator) who is assigned your case. Once your case has been referred to court, you may obtain information about the course of the proceedings from the Legal Division officer who is handling your case in court.
You can obtain free legal aid for proceedings included in the Law on the Supply of Free Legal Aid, in the context of proceedings relating to particular types of human rights violations.
“Proceedings relating to particular types of human rights violations” means any:
The form of legal aid available under the aforementioned Law:
The human rights protected under the aforementioned Law are those secured under:
Free legal aid is available to:
Moreover, any child who is a victim of any of the criminal offences described in the Act on Prevention and Control of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography, irrespective of whether he/she is willing to cooperate with the prosecution authorities for the purposes of criminal investigation, prosecution or trial, has direct access to free counselling under the Lawyers Act, at any phase of the proceedings, as well as to free legal aid in case he/she lacks the necessary resources, irrespective of the provisions of the Act on Legal Aid.
Where the child victim has the right to a representation, he/she may receive legal advice and be appointed a legal representative who acts on their behalf, in proceedings where there is, or there could be, a conflict of interest between the child victim and the holders of parental responsibility.
Any person who is a victim of any of the crimes described in the Act on Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking and Exploitation and on Victim Protection, irrespective of whether he/she is willing to cooperate with the prosecution authorities for the purposes of criminal investigation, prosecution or trial, has direct access to free counselling under the Lawyers Act, as well as to free legal aid in case he/she lacks the necessary resources, in accordance with the provisions of the Act on Legal Aid.
In order for free legal aid to be provided, a written request needs to be filed to the Court before which your case is pending for trial. The Court may issue a free legal aid order, on the basis of:
Legal aid beneficiaries have a right to select the lawyer who will offer them free legal aid, among those willing to offer these types of services, as per the applicable laws. If a beneficiary fails to appoint a lawyer of his/her own choice, the Court will appoint a lawyer from a list prepared by the Cyprus Bar Association, as per the applicable regulations.
The Republic of Cyprus will reimburse you for all expenses provided for in the Law. Information about how and under what conditions you can claim expenses is available at the District Prosecution Divisions of the Police Force.
You can request a reasoned decision from the Police, if investigation or prosecution did not proceed or has been terminated.
You may participate in the trial as a witness for the prosecution and testify before the Court which hears the matter.
In the context of criminal proceedings, your role is that of a witness for the prosecution. If you file a claim for damages against the offender, you take the role of a plaintiff in the civil proceedings concerned.
As a witness for the prosecution, you are obliged to testify before the Court which hears the matter. If you have filed a claim for damages, you can obtain information about your rights and obligations from the lawyer who is handling your case before the Civil Courts.
In the course of any proceedings in which you are a witness for the prosecution, you may read and adopt the deposition you have made to the Police or submit the evidence you have made available to the Police during the investigation. If you wish to make a statement or testify anything in addition to your original deposition or to the evidence you have made available to the Police, you should consult the director of the Legal Division which is handling your case at the Court.
During the trial, the Prosecutor will inform you as to when and how hearing sessions are to take place and the nature of the charges pressed against the offender. You may also request to be informed of any final rulings rendered in the course of the proceedings.
You have no right to access any court files.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
You have no right to appeal against the ruling rendered by the court at first instance. The Attorney General of the Republic has the right to appeal.
A sentence may be utilised by your lawyer if you file a claim for damages against the offender.
You are entitled to post-trial support and/or protection for a reasonable period of time, depending on your needs at that particular moment.
Upon request, you may be informed by the Police about the sentence that was imposed on the offender by the Court.
Upon request, you may be informed:
It is pointed out that the above information may be withheld if there is a potential or established risk of harm for the offender.
You have no right to become involved in any release or parole decisions concerning the offender.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
You have the right to bring a court case against the offender for the offence that was committed against you. You may also contact the Social Welfare Services to obtain information on your right to claim damages.
Minors under the age of 18 have a right to file a claim for damages against all parties liable, for the crimes provided for in the Act on Prevention and Control of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography and for human rights violations. The offender bears the respective civil liability to pay compensation for all specific or general damages incurred by the victim(s).
Any person who is a victim within the meaning of the Act on Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking and Exploitation and on Victim Protection has a right to file a claim for damages against all parties liable, for any criminal offences committed against them according to the aforementioned Act as well as for human rights violations. The offender bears the respective civil liability to pay compensation for all specific or general damages incurred by the victim(s), including any arrears owed to the victim(s) as a result of their forced employment.
If the offender fails to pay you the amount of damages awarded by the Court, you can address the Court, through your lawyer,, which shall issue an order to the offender to pay the damages awarded; if the offender fails to comply, they shall be instantly arrested and imprisoned
The Law does not provide for any advance to victims by the state.
Compensation may be provided by the state in the form described in the 1997 Law on Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes (Law 51(I)/97), to victims of violent crimes or their dependants, if:
(a) The victim or his/her dependants are unable to obtain compensation from the offender for any reason, and
(b) No compensation is available from other sources or such compensation is smaller in amount than that provided for in the above Law:
The compensation under the aforementioned Law is payable even in cases where the offender may not be prosecuted or sentenced:
If compensation available from other sources is less than that prescribed in the above Law, the State pays the difference.
The Law also lays down the circumstances where compensation is denied and further determines what the amount of payable compensation includes.
“Violent crime” means any crime committed with intent in the Republic of Cyprus, which involves violence and causes death, severe bodily damage or ill health as a direct result, including any of the following criminal offences, provided that they cause the aforementioned results:
Premeditated murder: (Articles 203 and 204), Attempted murder: (Article 214), Rape: (Article 144), Attempted rape: (Article 146), Kidnapping: (Article 148), Kidnapping of a female person under the age of 16 years: (Article 149), Acts intended to cause severe bodily damage: (Article 228), Severe bodily damage: (Article 231), Attempted bodily damage through use of explosives: (Article 232), Malevolent use of poison: (Article 233), Injury: (Article 234), Assault causing bodily damage: (Article 243), Other assaults: (Article 244), Crimes against personal liberty: (Articles 245-254), Arson: (Article 315).
A request for compensation as per the aforementioned Law must be submitted to the Director of the Social Security Services within a reasonable period of time, in any case within two years after the bodily damage / ill health / death was caused, as applicable.
The request shall be accompanied by a police report, a medical certificate and any other documents that may be useful for its assessment. The Director of the Social Security Services may request such additional evidence as may be required, at his/her discretion, including evidence that no compensation has been or will be paid from any other sources, including a sworn declaration by the applicant.
The award of compensation to the victims is not conditional upon the offender’s conviction. The Court renders a ruling as to the award of damages in the context of the proceedings regarding the claim for damages, which is clearly distinct from the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
You may not receive an emergency payment since the law does not provide for such a payment.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
The Police………199/1460
The State Hospital First Aid Services
The District Welfare Services
The Educational Psychology Service
The Mental Health Services
A victim support helpline
Non-Governmental Organisations
The following helplines are available in the Republic of Cyprus:
1460 - Citizen hotline
1440 - Domestic Violence hotline
1498 - Drug Information and Assistance helpline
116111 - Child and juvenile support helpline
116000 - Cyprus Hotline for Missing Children
Victim support provided by governmental agencies and NGOs is free of charge.
You can receive the following types of support from state services:
If you are a victim of domestic violence, a child victim of sexual abuse or a victim of human trafficking, the Social Welfare Services will inform you of your rights and will offer you support. They will also put you in contact with all competent state agencies and NGOs which will handle your case and offer you support. If your interests conflict with those of your parents, the Director of the Social Welfare Services will take all steps necessary to protect you.
You can receive the following types of support from non-governmental organisations:
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.