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It is with great pleasure that I participate in tonight's event to inaugurate the "Thread" Centre, together with the former President of the Republic. A decision to operate this pioneering Centre was taken by the previous administration. I know from my work with the former President how high on his priorities was the need to operate this Centre and I am delighted that he is with us today at the inauguration.
Today, without any exaggeration, is a milestone in our common goal of promoting psychosomatic health and supporting our fellow human beings who need help to recover from traumas that have marked their lives.
Today, without any exaggeration, is a milestone in our common goal of promoting psychosomatic health and supporting our fellow human beings who need help to recover from traumas that have marked their lives.
The operation of the Centre fills an important gap - and we are proud because our country is among the few countries where such a Centre operates - in relation to the effective support of our adult fellow citizens who have suffered sexual violence in their childhood. Our fellow citizens who have not had access, either for social reasons because of social stigma - let's face it, we have to call a spade a spade - or because of the lack of the necessary structures, the support that they needed.
The idea of creating the Centre came about through the multi-level and very remarkable action of the "Voice" Council and after a suggestion by its President, Mrs. Anastasia Papadopoulou, whom I congratulate for the initiative, since both the President and the Council aptly identified the need for support for adults who had suffered sexual abuse in their childhood.
Today, therefore, we are launching the first structure providing psychological support and treatment to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families. A programme implemented by the Cyprus Family Planning Association and funded by the Ministry of Health under the Minor State Aid Scheme.
Throughout history, societies have dealt with the complexities of sexual trauma, often masked by silence, social stigma and shame. It was precisely these social prejudices and perceptions that prevented all of us, firstly, from recognising the problems and the chain effects they had, and secondly, since we did not recognise the problem, we were not led to take the necessary action of establishing such centres as the one we are inaugurating today, with which we are paving the way, among many others, for an environment that creates conditions of prevention, understanding, support and treatment.
In a world where the shadows of sexual trauma often overshadow the lives of many of our fellow citizens, the Centre we are inaugurating tonight is a beacon of light, hope and compassion. It represents the unwavering commitment of both the state and civil society to address the profound impact, the consequences that such experiences can have on the human psyche.
The Centre we inaugurate today is part of a holistic strategy to address this issue so that no one and no citizen is left helpless. The operation of the Center simultaneously recognizes that addressing and combating child sexual abuse and exploitation is not just about the individuals who experience it, but has significant interactions and negative impacts and outcomes for our society at large. In this context, the Centre will implement actions that, in addition to supporting individuals, are as much about prevention as they are about combating the phenomenon. And the prevention factor is particularly crucial.
Among the many actions, it will provide psychological support and treatment, information actions, the necessary interface with other health services, legal guidance, as well as the design and implementation of preventive programs, aiming to educate children, parents and professionals on issues related mainly to healthy relationships, sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
With the operation of the Center we are also responding to international commitments.
The Centre provides a full range of services to meet the multidimensional needs of victims, recognising that each person requires a personalised approach. It welcomes and respects all people, providing a safe space for all and sundry. Here, someone is sure to find someone who will listen carefully, a non-judgmental voice and a conscientious person who is willing to walk beside them supportively, enhancing their efforts.
The Centre will cooperate with all relevant bodies such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, the State Ministry of Social Welfare, the Police and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Sexual abuse, sexual violence can have no place in our society. In 2023, and according to the Council of Europe, one in five children in Europe will be victims of some form of sexual abuse, which also translates into one in five adults among us. This cannot continue.
To the victims who are with us today, we want you to know that your experiences have shaken us, your pain is acknowledged and your voices have been and will be heard, and that is why we are here today. The operation of the Centre is a testament to your resilience, courage and your own determination to regain control of your lives. The road ahead may be difficult, but we assure you that you are not alone in this effort.
Let today be the beginning of a new chapter for our country, a new chapter where sexual trauma is no longer a silent epidemic that consumes lives, but a chapter where we move forward, hand in hand, to support and encourage those who have suffered it, and to prevent similar incidents in the future. So let the Centre become a refuge of hope for all, giving "Thread" to the dead ends of life.
(PM/NG)
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