A political storm has erupted in Cyprus over the state’s handling of social welfare reforms, following public outrage over the horrific abuse of five children by their parents. The case has renewed scrutiny of the Social Welfare Services and the Ministry of Social Welfare, with both current and former officials engaging in a heated exchange over accountability and the slow pace of long-promised structural changes.

The controversy escalated when former Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Anastasia Anthousi, published a statement on social media claiming that key reform plans initiated in 2019 had either stalled or been dismantled over the past two years. Her remarks referred to recent comments made by the current Director of Social Welfare Services, Maria Kyratzi, during a parliamentary session. Kyratzi reportedly confirmed that reform proposals had been submitted following the high-profile case of Stylianos, a young boy whose tragic death had previously shocked the nation.

Anthousi stated that the original 2019 proposals had been incorporated into a €48 million restructuring framework approved by the Council of Ministers, which gained momentum with the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare. Questioning the current administration’s commitment, she asked: “What has been dismantled and what has been implemented over the last two years?”

In response, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare issued a detailed statement defending its actions and reaffirming its commitment to the restructuring of Social Welfare Services. The Ministry emphasized that reforms are being carried out under the EU co-funded “THALEIA” Cohesion Program and have been progressing steadily since 2019.

Despite the Ministry’s assurances, public criticism continues to grow regarding the timeliness and effectiveness of these measures in preventing tragic cases like the most recent one.

According to the Ministry, significant developments include:

• The launch, in July 2024, of a major public tender for the comprehensive modernization of the organization, methods, and operational principles of the Social Welfare Services.

• The rollout of the “Neighborhood Social Worker” pilot program in April 2023, with full nationwide implementation planned by December 2024.

• The signing of a contract in March 2025 for a new risk assessment tool to determine child endangerment and appropriate protective measures.

• Training programs for senior administrative staff conducted over the past two years.

• Ongoing services for vulnerable children, such as mentorship and professional supervision.

• The operation of interdisciplinary teams at both central and district levels to manage complex cases.

Additional plans include upgrading the national child protection system, drafting a National Child Protection Strategy, deploying a new information management system, and establishing a dedicated call center.