The law passed by a vote of 38 to 4 in a country that has recorded 20 femicides in three years.
Cypriot Parliament voted on Friday to pass a law imprisoning perpetrators of feminicide to life imprisonment amid rising domestic violence recorded on the Mediterranean island.
Proposed by Annita Demetriou, the first woman in the Cyprus Parliament, the bill was adopted with 38 votes in favour, 4 against.
20 murders of women in 3 years
The island, a member of the European Union with a population of around one million, has recorded 20 murders of women in three years, according to police data. The latest comes from a month ago, when an 84-year-old man killed his 82-year-old wife in the southern city of Limassol.
In 2019, Cyprus had recorded nine femicides, including five perpetrated by a serial killer who police said was sentenced to life in prison. Among his victims were two young girls.
Cases of violence against women are on the rise and have increased by 67% between 2020 and 2021, according to the same source.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
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