Cyprus government policies are mean and unfair
Article 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus states that “Every person has the right to a decent existence and to social security. A law shall provide for the ...
One in five Europeans lives in poverty, says deputy minister
One in five Europeans and one in four children live in poverty, Social Welfare Deputy Minister Clea Hadjistefanou-Papaellina said on Friday, highlighting Cyprus’ efforts during its presidency of the Council ...
Kisa furious as 23 migrants ‘forced to leave’ state accommodation
Non-governmental organisation Kisa on Friday expressed fury after the social welfare services department “abruptly terminated the accommodation and food support” it had provided to 23 Indian nationals, who, it said, are ...
Audit finds welfare checks lacking
Weaknesses in the administration of welfare benefits, including insufficient checks, delayed interventions and staffing shortages, came under scrutiny on Thursday as the House audit committee examined a special Audit Office ...
Woman told to refund €11,000 in social benefits
A woman who over the period of two years received social benefits has reportedly been told to pay back a sum of over €11,000 in government support.
According to Phileleftheros, the ...
Welfare reform to make it more responsive to people’s needs
The welfare services are undergoing a “restructuring” making them more responsive to people’s needs, the government said on Tuesday, but skeptical MPs countered that the proof is in the ...
School assistants to be introduced for children with disabilities
A total of 290 new positions for school assistants and chaperones for children with disabilities, as well as an increase in social benefits, were approved by Cabinet this week, President Nikos ...
Defence challenges teacher’s evidence in Stylianos trial
Cross examination of a former nursery schoolteacher continued on Friday in the Nicosia district court trial surrounding the suicide of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou, with defence lawyers repeatedly challenging the basis ...
Neighbourhood social worker successful but more to be done
The ‘Neighbourhood Social Worker’, launched in April 2023, has proved its value and allows for optimism, however there is much more that can still be done, Deputy Welfare Minister Clea Papaellina ...
Man arrested as union calls for greater protection for welfare officers
A 51-year-old man was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly damaging the windshields of five vehicles belonging to Social Welfare Services (SWS) employees, while the government promised a comprehensive solution to ...
Defence challenges welfare role in teen suicide trial
The defence in the trial concerning the suicide of a teenager in 2019 sought on Thursday to downplay the responsibility of the social welfare services, while a key prosecution witness insisted ...
Teenager never given protection he needed, court hears
Social welfare services should have taken custody, at least temporarily, of a teenager who ended up taking his own life in 2019, a witness told Nicosia district court on Monday.
Independent ...
Police chief under fire over teen suicide
Questions over the handling of the Stylianou suicide case intensified on Wednesday after further details emerged regarding the investigation into police chief Themistos Arnaoutis and the decision of the legal ...
Our View: Authorities failed a vulnerable child at every level
The ongoing case concerning the suicide of a 15-year-old abused boy in September 2019 makes for harrowing reading, not only for the misery he endured his entire life but for the ...
Welfare officers ‘failed to act’ on child’s suicide warning
A criminal investigator testified on Monday before the Nicosia district court that social welfare officers failed to follow prescribed procedures in the case of 14-year-old Stylianos Constantinou, who died by ...
Suicide teen lived in ‘abusive environment from the day he was born’
Stylianos Constantinou, the 15-year-old boy who ended his life by suicide in 2019, “was forced to grow up in this abusive environment from the day he was born”, the Nicosia district ...
Police sergeant faces charge over 2019 teen suicide
A police sergeant is facing a charge over the 2019 death of 15-year-old Stylianos in Kotsiatis, it was reported on Wednesday.
According to a Philenews report, this is the second case ...
Six-year-old child’s case adds mounting pressure on welfare services
Social welfare services (SWS) on Wednesday faced renewed scrutiny after a father walked into the office of the commissioner for children’s rights on Monday morning with his six-year-old son, ...
Parents urged to check out nurseries before enrolling their children
Parents are urged to check the credibility of nurseries and daycare centres before enrolling their children, the director of social welfare services (SWS) said on Wednesday.
Maria Kiraji was speaking ...
Government portal expands with new digital services
The public will now be able to access six new services through the government’s digital portal, including the issuing and renewal of passports and refugee identity cards for displaced ...
Social welfare responded to 53 human trafficking cases in 2024
Social welfare services were called to help 53 cases of human trafficking in the first half of 2024, amid efforts to improve support to victims, it emerged on Friday.
According to figures ...
Funds disbursed for single-parent families
The Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare announced Monday that support for single-parent families had been disbursed.
This decision was made during the ministry council meeting on February 21st.
Eligible recipients ...
Lakatamia mayor blasts ministry for deplorable conditions at social welfare offices (update 2)
The social welfare services on Tuesday came in for renewed and harsh criticism over their handling of the Lakatamia office which deals with foreign nationals, as the municipality announced it ...