Almost four in ten women in Cyprus (36.1%) have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, above the EU average of 30.7%, while nearly 40% report sexual harassment at work, according to the latest EU survey on gender-based violence (FRA, EIGE, Eurostat, 2024).
In response, the new VOICES programme provides €2.5 million in funding for prevention and intervention actions addressing gender-based violence in Cyprus and Greece, supporting a total of 37 projects, 29 in Greece and 8 in Cyprus.
Focus on prevention and support
The Cyprus NGO Support Centre announced that funded interventions will target domestic and sexual violence, gender-based cyber violence, and other harmful gender-related practices. Women and girls with multiple vulnerabilities, survivors, and victims of violence will be at the core of the programme.
Strengthening civil society
The VOICES programme is co-financed by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, alongside the Bodossaki Foundation, the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights, and the Cyprus NGO Support Centre.
Beyond funding projects, VOICES aims to strengthen organisational capacity and sustainability of civil society organisations (CSOs) and promote their participation in policy-making.
Launch event and application process
The Cyprus launch took place on 3 April 2026 at the Strovolos Cultural Centre, featuring an open discussion and a workshop on grant application writing for CSOs.
The programme also offers training, mentoring, workshops, networking, awareness campaigns, and advocacy actions. Interested organisations can submit proposals for projects addressing various forms of gender-based violence until Wednesday, 1 July 2026, via the Bodossaki Foundation platform.
Also read: Woman abducted and raped in Nicosia
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
