On 27 February 2025, the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the case of X v. Cyprus, which concerned the ineffective investigation of the applicant’s complaint of gang rape and the inadequate response of the Cypriot authorities leading to her secondary victimisation.

The Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights stresses the importance of this judgment of the ECtHR, which demonstrates that the legislative framework for the criminal prosecution of sexual offences – however robust it may be – is not sufficient if it is not effectively implemented. Essential to this end is an understanding of the gender dimension by professionals who come into contact with victims and the development of appropriate reflexes and protocols when investigating such offences. Mandatory, systematic initial and lifelong training of professionals in particular to combat entrenched stereotypical and outdated perceptions, and to raise awareness against the culture of gender inequality and imbalance in power relations between men and women is crucial.

The Press Release is available here.