Interdisciplinary Conference on Domestic Violence and Health Professionals Successfully Completed

The interdisciplinary conference co-organised by the Physiotherapy Program of the Health Sciences Department of University of Nicosia, the Mediterranean Institute for Gender Studies and the Advisory Committee for the Prevention and Combating of Violence in the Family was successfully completed.

Held on Saturday, 19 October 2024, the conference focused on domestic violence and the crucial role of health professionals in the victim support chain. It brought together specialised scientists, health professionals, physiotherapists, and social workers who shared their knowledge and experiences to enhance actions supporting victims and preventing violence.

The conference highlighted the need for training and informing health professionals about the signs of domestic violence and intervention methods, as well as strengthening cooperation among the various professionals involved in victim support. The establishment of specific action protocols to address incidents of domestic violence was also deemed important.

At the end of the conference, it was announced that health professionals, as well as male and female students, will have access to a free online, asynchronous distance learning programme on recognising the signs of domestic violence and addressing it through specialised support for victim-survivors. This training will be available in both Greek and English. The creation of this programme is funded by the Erasmus+ Online Professional Education for Physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals on Domestic Violence, through collaboration between Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, and Spain. The training will be available in the coming weeks. For pre-registration, interested parties can contact [email protected] or [email protected] .

Additionally, a 150-page guide for physiotherapists and other health professionals on recognising and supporting victims of abuse is available free of charge. The guide is accessible on the programme’s website [www.opep-dv.eu] in English and will soon be available in Greek, Turkish, Russian, Spanish, and Estonian.

The organisers express their sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, and the Pancyprian Association of Physiotherapists, as well as all the speakers for their support and participation in the conference.