In view of the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Hope for Children CRC Police Center stressed that the vast majority of child sexual abuse occurs in the child’s circle of trust. When the harm is done by a person they know, admire, trust and even love, children find it particularly difficult to disclose and overcome the abuse. During the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19, children closed in with their abusers had even less chances to seek help. When abuse in the child’s circle of trust is reported, the victim and the family often go through an ordeal because of ill-coordinated and poorly prepared justice and social services.
This was also confirmed by Andria Neokleous, director of the Humanitarian Division of “Hope for Children” regarding facts in Cyprus, through the statistics maintain by the House of Children. She said that in 2020, the House of Child was asked to help 324 children from all over Cyprus and in approximately 70% of the cases the children knew the culprit.
