Cyprus signed a contract last week for the financing of the construction of a new shelter for the Victims of Domestic Violence under the Norway Grants 2009-2014.
According to a press release issued Monday, the project will be implemented by the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family.
Funding is provided to Cyprus on the basis of the relevant provisions of the MoU signed between the Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Norway in December 2011 and 2012.
The total budget of the project is €819.202. The Norway Grants 2009-2014 will provide 90,6% of the total project budget, which amounts to €742.198, while the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family will provide 9,4% of the total project budget, which amounts to €77.005.
The main objective of the project is to create the infrastructure required to offer increased and improved standards of accommodation, security and other supporting services to people who experience physical and psychological abuse and who are in danger from their immediate family environment.
The implementation of the project is expected to address social and economic disparities resulting from Domestic Violence by empowering victims in order to become financially and psychologically independent and be confident in pursuing their goals and exercising their rights.
This will serve as a stepping stone towards breaking the cycle of violence and reintegrating victims smoothly into society.
The project is in line with the aims of the national strategy as regards the prevention and combating of Domestic Violence and the social integration of vulnerable groups and will greatly support the implementation of this strategy.
Moreover, the implementation of the project will contribute to the strengthening of the bi-communal cooperation between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, by accommodating victims from both communities, as the Association is committed to the relief and support of victims of domestic violence, regardless of their nationality, political beliefs and religion.