The “ELPIS” mobile application, designed to provide immediate assistance to victims of domestic violence, was officially launched in Cyprus on Monday during a press conference attended by government officials and stakeholders.
During the event, it was noted that domestic violence remains a growing form of gender-based violence globally, and Cyprus is no exception. Statistics for Cyprus presented during the launch showed a steady rise in reported incidents over recent years: 1,199 cases in 2019, 1,881 in 2020, 3,347 in 2021, 3,082 in 2022, 2,988 in 2023, and 3,322 in 2024.
In his address, Minister of Justice and Public Order Marios Hartsiotis described the app’s launch as a significant milestone.
“A great deal of effort went into reaching this point, which is why I am truly proud and moved today as we launch the ELPIS application,” he said. “It comes at a time when domestic violence, unfortunately, continues to affect our daily lives.”
The Minister explained that ELPIS is a specially designed smartphone app that allows individuals at heightened risk of domestic violence—particularly those facing threats to their life or physical integrity—to silently and swiftly contact police authorities for immediate help.
“Victims, the vast majority of whom are women, can alert law enforcement with the press of a button, discreetly requesting assistance,” said Hartsiotis. “Essentially, it functions as a silent alarm to ensure the victim’s safety and protection.”
The app has been running in pilot mode since November 2023 across Cyprus, with what the Minister called “very satisfactory results.”
“With today’s full rollout of ELPIS, we recognise the life-saving impact similar ‘panic button’ systems have had in other countries, preventing severe acts of violence and even femicides,” he added.
The Minister also noted that over the past three years, the government has stepped up coordinated and targeted efforts to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence more broadly.
ELPIS is now available for use and is expected to become a key tool in the national strategy to protect vulnerable individuals and combat domestic abuse.
