Help for Women Affected by Violence in Northern Cyprus: Where to Turn

If a woman in Northern Cyprus has experienced domestic or other violence, in the event of an immediate threat she can call the police at 155, an ambulance at — 112, and the 24-hour social services helpline at — 183. Kadın Sığınma Evi, operated by Lefkoşa Municipality, provides safe temporary accommodation for women and children. In 2026, a network of municipal ŞÖDAM centres also began operating in seven districts of Northern Cyprus.

• Where to turn in the event of immediate danger
• Kadın Sığınma Evi — shelter for women and children
• What assistance the shelter provides
• Can foreign women seek help?
• ŞÖDAM centres in different districts of Northern Cyprus
• Police units dealing with violence against women
• Free legal assistance
• KAYAD — psychological and legal counselling
• How to seek help
• If you are planning to leave a dangerous situation
• Glossary
• Frequently asked questions
• If you need a consultation with a lawyer in Northern Cyprus

Where to turn in the event of immediate danger

If there is an immediate threat to life or health, you can contact the emergency services directly. The ALO 183 helpline is available for social assistance and coordination with other services.

• Police: 155
• Ambulance: 112
• ALO 183 — Acil Sosyal Hizmet Hattı: 183, 24 hours a day
• Kadın Sığınma Evi: +90 542 876 30 30
• Additional shelter number: +90 533 855 30 30

ALO 183 is the 24-hour helpline of the Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi. Reports of violence against women can be made through it, as well as enquiries concerning children and other people who require social protection. Where necessary, information is passed on to the police, medical institutions and other relevant services.

Police and other emergency service contacts are also collected in the article «Emergency Services in Northern Cyprus».

Kadın Sığınma Evi — shelter for women and children

Kadın Sığınma Evi is a shelter for women and children affected by domestic violence in Northern Cyprus. It has operated under Lefkoşa Türk Belediyesi since 25 November 2016.

The shelter was established as a safe temporary place for women who cannot safely remain at home or return to the person posing a threat. Although the shelter belongs to Lefkoşa Municipality, applications are accepted from throughout Northern Cyprus.

Previously published municipal data indicated that an average of around 30 women lived in the shelter each year, while approximately 100 other women received legal and psychological support annually without staying there. In subsequent years, the scope of assistance continued to grow: when the government legal aid programme was extended in 2025, it was reported that by that time 333 women had been referred through Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi to the women's shelter.

• Telephone: +90 542 876 30 30
• Additional telephone: +90 533 855 30 30
• Availability: 24/7
• Who it helps: women and children affected by violence

The exact address of the safe accommodation is not made public. This is because the shelter is intended to be a protected place. The shelter's telephone numbers, the police, ALO 183 and social services can be used to seek help.

What assistance the shelter provides

Assistance from Kadın Sığınma Evi is not limited to providing temporary accommodation. According to the municipality and shelter specialists, support is structured according to the specific circumstances of the woman and children.

• safe temporary accommodation;
• help with basic needs;
• psychological and social support;
• legal assistance;
• assistance when contacting government and medical services;
• help finding accommodation;
• in some cases — assistance with education and employment;
• help resolving issues related to children's education.

Women who do not stay at the shelter can also receive support. Kadın Sığınma Evi staff previously reported working with women who needed help with accommodation, employment, children, financial matters or leaving a violent situation, but did not need to be accommodated directly at the shelter.

Contacting the police is not a mandatory condition for receiving advice or support from the shelter. However, in the event of an immediate safety threat, the police can provide an emergency response and coordinate with other services.

Can foreign women seek help?

Yes. Assistance from the women's shelter is not limited to citizens of Northern Cyprus. Published data on the work of Kadın Sığınma Evi noted that a significant proportion of those seeking help were women from Turkey and third countries.

Lefkoşa Municipality has also provided support through the women's shelter to foreigners and people in vulnerable situations. Therefore, not having Northern Cyprus citizenship is not in itself a reason not to seek help.

When contacting the service, it is advisable to say where you are, whether you have children with you, whether there is an immediate threat, whether medical assistance is needed and which language you would prefer to use. The specific procedure for accommodation and further support is determined after the situation has been assessed.

ŞÖDAM centres in different districts of Northern Cyprus

In 2026, Şiddeti Önleme ve Danışma Merkezleri (ŞÖDAM) — violence prevention and counselling centres — began operating in several municipalities of Northern Cyprus.

These are not shelters. Their purpose is to make initial assistance directly accessible in different districts of Northern Cyprus. At ŞÖDAM, you can receive counselling, social support and information about where to turn next.

People can contact ŞÖDAM if they have experienced psychological, physical, economic, digital or sexual violence, believe they are at risk of violence, or need information about legal, social, economic and medical support mechanisms.

The centres also help people contact the police, Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi, TOCED, the women's shelter, medical institutions, employment services and other organisations.

Municipality	ŞÖDAM telephone
Kyrenia	+90 533 868 33 09
Famagusta	+90 548 823 30 35
Lefke	+90 533 826 83 52
Çatalköy-Esentepe	+90 548 824 40 68
Değirmenlik-Akıncılar	+90 542 884 18 28
Dikmen	+90 546 993 90 38
Mesarya	+90 548 878 15 15

If a person specifically needs safe temporary accommodation, ŞÖDAM staff can help them contact the relevant services and the women's shelter.

Police units dealing with violence against women

In addition to the general emergency number 155, the police force of Northern Cyprus has units that handle reports of violence against women.

Unit	Telephone
PGM Central Unit	+90 548 811 21 83
Lefkoşa	+90 548 811 31 83
Famagusta	+90 548 811 41 83
Kyrenia	+90 548 811 51 83
Güzelyurt	+90 548 811 61 83
İskele	+90 548 811 71 83

In an emergency, it is sufficient to use the police short number 155. Regional numbers may be useful for contacting the relevant unit directly.

Free legal assistance

Northern Cyprus has a free legal aid mechanism for women affected by violence who do not have sufficient financial means. The programme is implemented jointly by Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi and Kıbrıs Türk Barolar Birliği.

Legal assistance may be provided, in particular, when applying for protective measures, as well as in matters of family law, divorce and related procedures.

In 2025, the agreement between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the bar association was extended again. At the time of the extension, it was reported that 625 women had used free legal assistance during the period the mechanism had been in operation.

To find out whether a particular situation falls under the programme, you can contact Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi or call ALO 183:

• ALO 183: 183

KAYAD — psychological and legal counselling

Kadından Yaşama Destek Derneği (KAYAD) is a non-governmental organisation that has been working in Northern Cyprus since 1998. One of its areas of work is preventing violence against women and children and helping women who need support.

KAYAD has participated in projects to develop legal aid mechanisms, train professionals working with victims of domestic violence, provide psychological support and improve access to legal assistance.

KAYAD's official website lists legal and psychological counselling. Legal consultations for women and psychological consultations for women and young people are held on specific days of the week.

• Address: Okullar Yolu No. 70, Küçük Kaymaklı, Lefkoşa
• Telephone: +90 392 227 07 51
• E-mail: info@kayad.org
• Office hours: weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00
• Website: kayad.org

KAYAD is not an emergency service and does not replace the police or the women's shelter. In the event of an immediate threat, use 155, 112, 183 or the 24-hour Kadın Sığınma Evi telephone numbers.

How to seek help

How to do it

1. If there is an immediate threat to life or health, call the police at 155. If urgent medical assistance is required, call 112.
2. If safe temporary accommodation is needed, you can call Kadın Sığınma Evi directly at +90 542 876 30 30 or +90 533 855 30 30.
3. For social assistance and coordination with services, you can use the 24-hour helpline 183.
4. For advice in your area of residence, contact the nearest municipal ŞÖDAM.
5. When contacting the service, say where you are, whether you have children with you, whether there is an immediate danger and whether medical assistance is needed.
6. If you would prefer to communicate in a language other than Turkish, say so at the first contact.
7. If legal assistance is needed, ask about the possibility of free legal support through Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi and Kıbrıs Türk Barolar Birliği.

If you are planning to leave a dangerous situation

If the situation does not require immediate emergency intervention and preparation does not increase the risk, it may be useful to gather documents, a telephone and charger, necessary medication, bank cards or cash, and items for a child in advance.

You can save the police, ALO 183 and women's shelter numbers in advance, and identify a place you can reach quickly.

If there is an immediate threat, preparing belongings or documents should not delay seeking emergency assistance. In that case, call the police at 155 immediately or contact another available emergency service.

Glossary

• Kadın Sığınma Evi — safe temporary accommodation for women and children affected by violence, with access to social, psychological and legal support.
• ŞÖDAM — Şiddeti Önleme ve Danışma Merkezi, a municipal violence prevention and counselling centre.
• ALO 183 — a 24-hour emergency social services helpline for reports of violence, threats to children and other situations requiring social protection.
• Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi — the Department of Social Services, which participates in supporting people who require social protection.
• KAYAD — Kadından Yaşama Destek Derneği, a non-governmental organisation supporting women.
• Domestic violence — physical, psychological, sexual, economic or other violence within a family or intimate relationship.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I call if the danger is immediate?

In the event of an immediate threat, you can call the police at 155. If medical assistance is required, call 112. ALO 183 and the Kadın Sığınma Evi telephone numbers are also available 24 hours a day.

Can I contact the shelter directly?

Yes. The numbers +90 542 876 30 30 and +90 533 855 30 30 can be used to contact Kadın Sığınma Evi directly. Contact can also be arranged through the police or social services.

Can I come with my child?

Yes. Kadın Sığınma Evi is intended for women and children who need safe temporary accommodation and support.

Is the shelter only for women living in Lefkoşa?

No. Although the shelter operates within the structure of Lefkoşa Türk Belediyesi, it accepts enquiries from throughout Northern Cyprus.

Can a foreign woman seek help?

Yes. The shelter's records have separately documented enquiries from women from Turkey and third countries. When contacting the service, it is advisable to provide your immigration status and any other circumstances that may be relevant to further support.

Do I have to file a police report to receive help?

No. A woman can seek support from the shelter, ŞÖDAM, ALO 183 or KAYAD without first filing a police report. In the event of an immediate threat, contacting the police makes it possible to obtain emergency protection.

Can I receive help without moving into the shelter?

Yes. The shelter also provides external support to women who do not need accommodation. In addition, counselling and support are available through ŞÖDAM, ALO 183, social services and KAYAD.

What should I do if the violence is psychological or economic rather than physical?

You can seek help in this situation as well. ŞÖDAM accepts enquiries related to psychological, economic, digital, physical and sexual violence, as well as threats of violence.

Does ŞÖDAM provide accommodation?

ŞÖDAM is a counselling and coordination centre, not a shelter. If safe accommodation is needed, the centre can help you contact social services and Kadın Sığınma Evi.

Can I get a free lawyer?

A free legal aid programme is available through Sosyal Hizmetler Dairesi and Kıbrıs Türk Barolar Birliği for women affected by violence who do not have sufficient financial means. Information about the requirements can be obtained by calling 183.

Where can I seek psychological counselling?

Psychological support is part of the assistance provided by Kadın Sığınma Evi. KAYAD also provides counselling, while ŞÖDAM can provide information about available specialists and services in your area of residence.

If you need a consultation with a lawyer in Northern Cyprus

You can contact our legal partner, DeJure, for a consultation with a lawyer licensed in Northern Cyprus.

• Telephone: +90 539 119 05 55
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