Right to establish and maintain family life
The field of family law ensures every individual’s right to marry and create a family with full and free consent, without restrictions based on origin, gender, or religion. This right is a fundamental principle that protects people’s freedom to choose whom they will build a family with and how they will organize their lives.
Gender equality within the family
Family law also aims to eliminate inequalities and discrimination related to gender, ensuring that all parents, regardless of gender, have equal rights and responsibilities in decision-making for their children and in managing family property.
Children’s rights
Children’s rights are also protected through family law, ensuring their healthy development and protection from any form of exploitation or violence. Laws such as the “Parents and Children Relations Law of 1990” (Law 216/1990) in Cypriot legislation regulate custody, parental care, and adoption. These laws ensure that children grow up in a safe and supportive environment that promotes their development and respects their individuality.
Protection from domestic violence
Domestic violence violates fundamental human rights, such as the right to safety and life. It often undermines respect for the victims, as the perpetrator violates the rights and personality of the other, creating an environment of fear, insecurity, and both mental and physical abuse. These violations weaken the victim’s position and cause severe consequences for their well-being.
The “Violence in the Family Law” (Law 119(I)/2000) establishes a framework for preventing and protecting victims of domestic violence. This law enables victims to seek protective measures, such as the removal of the perpetrator from the home and the imposition of restrictions to safeguard their physical and mental health. These measures are critical for ensuring the safety of victims, allowing them to live without the risk of further violence.
The law recognizes the need to protect victims and provides tools to implement practical measures to prevent further abuse while also promoting the well-being and recovery of victims on both physical and mental levels.
Polyxeni Agathopoulou Papadopoulou
Law Student at the University of Nicosia
