The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Cyprus mishandled a rape allegation from 2011, violating the victim's rights.

As a result of the ruling, Cyprus has been ordered to pay €35,470 in total damages and legal costs to the victim.

The prosecution was suspended by the Deputy Attorney General due to perceived inconsistencies in the victim's statements and her previous relationship with the accused, reflecting underlying gender biases.

The court identified systemic failures in the handling of the case, noting that the Deputy Attorney General's conclusions ignored the psychological trauma experienced by the victim.

The case began when the victim, born in 1992, reported being raped at age 18 in January 2011, but the prosecution was halted in December 2021 due to doubts about her credibility.

The court criticized the lack of access to the victim's case file and the absence of necessary psychological and legal support throughout the process.

In a scathing critique, the court pointed out that the language used by prosecutors reflected prejudices and sexist stereotypes, contributing to the victim's secondary victimization.

Despite the challenges in investigating historical allegations, the court emphasized that the state has a positive obligation to pursue justice, which it failed to fulfill.

The ECHR condemned the reliance on gender stereotypes by the Law Office, highlighting the failure to conduct a psychological assessment of the victim.

Following the ruling, the victim's lawyer, Leto Cariolou, called for reforms to redefine rape based on the absence of consent, countering victim-blaming narratives.

The court found that the victim experienced secondary victimization due to the sexist attitudes and victim-blaming from authorities after her allegations were dismissed.

The ECHR underscored that using gender stereotypes to assess a victim's credibility undermines justice and erodes confidence in the legal system.