Zehra Helin Reessur, a 17yearold girl from Famagusta, was brutally murdered by Sefer Bugra Altundag with an iron hammer. Her community mourns her tragic death and demands justice for the heinous act, sparking conversations about violence against women and femicide.
From 2019 to 2023, Cyprus faced 19 femicides, revealing a pressing issue of genderbased violence that often goes unnoticed. Efforts like the FemUnited project aim to standardize data collection and improve institutional responses to protect all women, especially those in marginalized groups, from this silent epidemic.
Efforts to combat violence against women include raising awareness, legal reforms prioritizing victim protection, free legal aid, education on domestic violence, and advocacy for better workplace conditions. Dedicated committees advocate for these changes to support and empower victims, aiming to break the cycle of abuse. Violence against women remains one of the gravest violations of human rights across the globe, with one in three women worldwide experiencing physical or sexual violence. Femicide, the murder of women because of their gender, is the tragic result of chronic abuse. A proactive committee has been working for 27 years to prevent and combat domestic violence, implementing important strategies and advocating for legal and social reforms. Access to free legal aid and education on domestic violence are critical in supporting victims and breaking the cycle of abuse. The committee remains committed to defending the rights of female victims and spearheading initiatives to bring about real change.
