From the beginning of the year until October, the Hope for Children CRC Policy Centre received 330 reports of sexual violence, the organisation announced on Friday.

Launching a campaign called ‘19 days of activism, preventing violence against children and young people’, the NGO specified that in 2023 it recorded cases of sexual violence affecting 469 children.

The police’s electronic crime unit also reported handling 203 cases in 2023, involving 106 underage victims. By the end of October this year, the unit had dealt with 161 cases, with 96 underage victims identified.

The campaign aims to prevent violence in all forms against children and to raise public awareness about abuse and its prevention.

This includes talks and presentations in the media, as well as education activities in schools targeting children, parents and teachers. The focus will be on identifying, preventing, and addressing all types of violence.

On November 17, a ‘joy festival’ (panigiri charas) event will be held at Eleftheria Square as part of the campaign. The NGO will also promote its mental health services and its free, 24-hour helpline (1466), which provides support related to child protection.

“Investing in child protection and children’s wellbeing is not a choice but an urgent need. It is crucial that mechanisms and infrastructure supporting children are strengthened.”

Public awareness should be heightened “so as to reduce abuse and give a voice to children who need help,” Andria Neocleous, executive director at Hope for Children said.