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Nearly six years after the death of 15-year-old Stylianos, a case that deeply shook Cyprus and exposed grave weaknesses in the child protection system, the long-awaited trial is set to begin. Proceedings will open on January 20, 2026, at the Nicosia District Court, involving eleven defendants, among them the boy’s parents and several officials from the Social Welfare Services (SWS).
Charges against the parents and welfare officials
The father faces accusations of physical and psychological abuse, common assault, and cruel and inhuman treatment. The mother is charged with failing to report acts of violence, while nine SWS officers stand accused of neglecting their official responsibilities and failing to protect the child.
A childhood marked by fear and neglect
Stylianos took his own life in September 2019, after years of reported domestic violence and emotional suffering. Teachers and social workers had been aware of his fear of his father and the turmoil within his home, but the response from authorities was minimal or nonexistent.
Findings of the Ombudswoman’s investigation
Following the tragedy, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights, led an inquiry authorized by the Council of Ministers. Her November 2019 report revealed serious institutional failures and a pattern of neglect stretching back to the boy’s early years.
According to the Commissioner’s conclusions:
- The mother repeatedly approached authorities and school staff in distress, accusing the father of abuse.
- The father refused to cooperate with officials, dismissing their concerns.
- Police and welfare officers ignored multiple domestic violence reports and never conducted risk assessments.
- Even after the father’s prior conviction for violence, no proper investigation or follow-up occurred.
- Case records available in digital systems were not used to guide protective action.
The Commissioner stated that the Social Welfare Services carried “the greatest share of responsibility,” pointing to an utter absence of risk evaluation, coordination, and intervention, all contrary to established administrative procedures.
From investigation to courtroom
Based on these findings, the case was referred to the then Attorney General, Costas Clerides, who appointed two independent criminal investigators. Their work concluded in 2021, leading to formal charges against the eleven defendants.
A trial beyond one tragedy
The proceedings set for January 2026 will examine not only the circumstances surrounding Stylianos’ death but also the broader institutional failures that left him unprotected. For many in Cyprus, the trial represents a moment of reckoning, a test of whether the state can finally deliver justice for a child its system failed to save.
Wiht information from 24news.
