A law to further protect victims of criminal acts was passed unanimously, with 37 votes in favour, by the Plenum of the Parliament.
The amendment to the Law on the Establishment of Minimum Standards on the Rights, Support and Protection of Victims of Crime came following a law proposal by AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou, which aims to strengthen the rights and protection of victims and to make the implementation of this legislation more effective.
In particular, the amendments broaden the term "victim" so that, in the event that, due to harm caused to the victim by the criminal act, the latter becomes incapable of exercising his/her judgment and will, the victim's rights may be exercised by members of his/her family for as long as the incapacity lasts.
The obligation of the services involved to provide appropriate training for their officials on the treatment and special needs of victims is also extended to persons outside the public service who, by virtue of their position or professional capacity, are involved in or come into contact with victims,
The right of victims to receive information about their case shall also be ensured and in particular the right of victims to be informed of the release or escape of a person remanded in custody, charged or convicted of an offence concerning the victim shall be enhanced. The victim's right not to be informed of the release or escape of the offender will be exercised in writing. It is also provided that the Department of Prisons shall be obliged to inform the police without undue delay of the release or escape of the offender.
An obligation is also established for each department involved to draw up a code of conduct for the better application of the law in its area of competence.
AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou said that victims have rights and the aim of the proposed law is to strengthen any provisions in favour of victims. Explaining the provisions of the legislation, she particularly stressed the importance of informing the victim and his/her family about the release of the perpetrator, noting that there was a case where the victim was confronted with the perpetrator without knowing about his/her release, with all the psychological consequences this entails. He thanked all those involved in the drafting of the proposed law and especially the lawyers Andreas Kapardi and Ilias Stefanou for their guidance.
DISY MP Nikos Tornaritis spoke in favour of the proposed law, which, he said, he considered modern and important and which is applied in most EU member states. He added that we are taking another important step forward.
DIKO MP Panicos Leonidou described the law as a very important step to strengthen rights and individual freedoms, stating that it really strengthens the rights of the weak person who suffers.
EPP MP Kostis Efstathiou paid tribute to Mrs. Charalambidou and the entire Human Rights Committee for contributing to the adoption of the proposal, noting that it covers some of the gaps that exist in Cypriot legislation regarding the protection of victims of crime and particularly vulnerable groups.
PPP MP Alekos Tryfonidis said the law comes to correct long-standing distortions in the treatment of victims of abuse, which is particularly important following the increase in violence against women brought about by the pandemic.
Source: CNA
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