The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Thursday that Cypriot authorities violated the rights of a British woman by failing to conduct an adequate investigation into her rape allegations. The court found that the investigation was marred by biases against women and a failure to act on crucial evidence.
In the case, the woman, who was raped by multiple men in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, in July 2019, reported the crime to local police but later retracted her statement after hours of questioning without legal representation. The authorities initially deemed her allegations “unsubstantiated,” despite DNA evidence linking three men to the crime. They also failed to include witness testimony and improperly transferred her personal data, charging her with “public mischief.”
The ECHR determined that this mishandling violated the woman’s right to be free from inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as her right to privacy under Article 8. The court highlighted how societal prejudices against women in Cyprus had led to the ineffective protection of her rights as a victim of gender-based violence.
The court awarded the victim €20,000 in damages and €5,000 in legal costs. Michael Polak, her representative, emphasized the importance of the ruling in reinforcing the principle that allegations of sexual violence must be thoroughly and fairly investigated.
The case stems from the victim’s original conviction of “public mischief” after retracting her allegation, a decision overturned by Cyprus’ Supreme Court in 2022. The Cypriot authorities refused to reopen her case, leading to the application to the ECHR.
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