Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Commend Cyprus on Strengthening its Ombudsperson, Ask about Racist Hate Speech and Restrictions on Movement from the North to the South of the Country
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the twenty-fifth periodic report of Cyprus on its implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Committee Experts commended the State on strengthening its Ombudsperson and asked questions on measures to address racist hate speech, including against Black football players, and discrimination stemming from restrictions on movement from the north to the south of the country.
One Committee Expert congratulated the State party on overhauling the legal status of the Ombudsperson, which led to its accreditation with “A” status under the Paris Principles.
Verene Albertha Shepherd, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said hate speech reportedly remained widespread in Cyprus and anti-Black racism had become increasingly visible in recent years. As an example, Chrispine Gwalawala Sibande, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, cited racist utterances directed at French-born Benin footballer Mickael Pote. What progress had the State party made in adopting hate speech legislation and monitoring mechanisms?
As of August 2025, Mr. Sibande said, only persons with valid Cyprus citizenship or European Union citizen cards were allowed to cross from the north to the south of the country. This rule restricted Turkish Cypriots and other foreigners. What efforts were being made to prevent discrimination against people attempting to enter the south of the country from the north?
Introducing the report, Sophia Kleopa Hadjikyriakou, Director of the Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities of Cyprus and head of the delegation, said Cyprus attributed particular importance to the implementation of the Convention. During the period under review, from 2016 to date, Cyprus had achieved important progress in combatting racial discrimination through the development of national action plans, policies and legislation.
The delegation said the Criminal Code and other laws explicitly prohibited hate crimes and hate speech, and the principle of equality and non-discrimination was enshrined in the Constitution. The State party supported all efforts to eradicate discrimination against people of African descent. It was working to strengthen existing anti-discrimination laws and stepping up protection from hate speech.
The delegation also said that Cyprus condemned all forms of racism and xenophobia in sport, including football, and approached such acts through its criminal justice framework and disciplinary mechanisms of sporting authorities. Cyprus law provided that anyone in a sporting venue who used racist or abusive slogans or symbols was guilty of a misdemeanour and subject to imprisonment for not longer than six months or a fine not exceeding 1,000 euros, or both.
Due to the continuing occupation of 36.2 per cent of its territory, the Government could not ensure the application of the Convention in these areas, the delegation said. The movement of people from the occupied area to areas under the control of the Government was regulated by the Green Line regulation. Since April 2003, several crossing points had been set up; they were most recently expanded in 2024. Entry into Cyprus though seaports or airports in the Turkish occupied north was considered illegal and could lead to fines, prosecution or entry bans.
In concluding remarks, Ms. Shepherd thanked the State party for the delegation’s frank and open responses to the Committee’s questions. She called on Cyprus to commit to article two of the Convention, which called on States to implement a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms.
Ms. Hadjikyriakou, in concluding remarks, said the delegation had presented the policies, laws and measures adopted during the period under review regarding Cyprus’ compliance with the letter and spirit of Convention. She reaffirmed Cyprus’ strong will and commitment to the effective implementation of the Convention and to ongoing strengthening of measures aimed at preventing and combatting racial discrimination.
Gün Kut, Committee Chair, in his concluding remarks, thanked the delegation for the frank and constructive dialogue. Based on the information presented, the Committee would develop concluding observations, he said.
The delegation of Cyprus consisted of representatives of the Office of the Law Commissioner, the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, the Cyprus Police, and the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Cyprus after the conclusion of its one hundred and seventeenth session on 1 May. The programme of work and other documents related to the session can be found here. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the meetings can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public on Tuesday, 21 April at 3 p.m. to consider the combined thirteenth and fourteenth periodic reports of Uzbekistan (CERD/C/UZB/13-14).
Report
The Committee has before it the twenty-fifth periodic report of Cyprus (CERD/C/CYP/25).
Presentation of Report
SOPHIA KLEOPA HADJIKYRIAKOU, Director of the Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities of Cyprus and head of the delegation, said Cyprus attributed particular importance to the implementation of the Convention, and it gave due consideration to the recommendations of the Committee in the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at eliminating racial discrimination. Cyprus ratified the Convention in 1967 and had been submitting periodic reports since then.
During the period under review, from 2016 to date, Cyprus had achieved important progress in combatting racial discrimination through the development of national action plans, policies and legislation. The social and economic policy of Cyprus promoted equal opportunities in employment, social protection, education and access to goods and services, with the aim of ensuring inclusive growth and improving the living conditions of vulnerable groups. Poverty indicators showed a gradual improvement in recent years, while income inequality had gradually stabilised. Cyprus also continued to provide voluntary contributions to United Nations funds and agencies engaged in human rights-related activities.
Due to the continuing occupation of 36.2 per cent of its territory by Turkish military forces, the Government could not ensure the application of the Convention in these areas or the full realisation of its anti-discrimination policies, anti-racism laws, policies and programmes. No reliable information was available regarding the enjoyment of the relevant rights by the population living in the occupied area.
Turkish Cypriots were not considered an ethnic minority in Cyprus. Under the 1960 Constitution, Turkish Cypriots constituted one of the two communities that resided on the island, the other being the Greek Cypriot community. Nationality was automatically granted to members of the two communities. Persons who were not part of those communities were deemed to be part of a religious group and were required to join the Greek or Turkish community, either on an individual basis or jointly as a religious group, to hold civil and political rights in Cyprus. The groups defined in the 1960 Constitution as religious groups — namely the Armenian, Latin and Maronite communities — held the rights granted to national minorities under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
The new refugee law was expected to be approved later this year. Cyprus had also made amendments to the Criminal Code; the law on the rights of persons who were arrested and detained; the law establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime; and the legal aid law. It had also enacted the law on prevention and combatting of school violence. The radio and television broadcasters law had been amended with provisions to prevent and prohibit discrimination, incitement to violence or hatred, and offensive language. Cyprus had also enacted a law to comply with the European Union digital services act, including the code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online.
Judicial reforms had also been carried out to strengthen the justice system and enhance the efficiency of the courts, including through the establishment and operation of the Administrative Court of International Protection. Further, the national human rights institution of Cyprus received “A” status accreditation in October 2022. National action plans and strategies continued to be developed and upgraded aiming to combat and eliminate discrimination, including the national strategy on gender equality, the national action plan on women, peace and security, and the national action plan for the prevention and combatting of violence against women (2023-2028).
Asylum seekers in Cyprus were now permitted to access the labour market nine months after their application for international protection. The Social Welfare Services provided monthly allowances to asylum seekers who could not be accommodated at a reception centre, as well as specific support to unaccompanied minors. In December 2021, Social Welfare Services submitted to the European Commission the national Roma strategic framework.
The Health Insurance Organization was responsible for the operation of the general healthcare system, launched in June 2019, which ensured that all individuals residing in the areas controlled by Cyprus had access to the same comprehensive range of healthcare services as Cypriot citizens, without discrimination, exceptions or exclusions.
The measures implemented by the Cyprus Police demonstrated a comprehensive approach to combatting racial discrimination and promoting human rights within law enforcement. Institutional reforms, specialised operational structures, improved detention standards, and extensive training programmes had all strengthened the capacity of the Police to address discrimination and protect vulnerable individuals.
Since the submission of the report, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth had undertaken a range of measures, including the implementation of its strategic plan on raising awareness against racism and intolerance and promoting equality and respect, as well as the national strategy for the prevention and management of school violence.
Questions by Committee Experts
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Cyprus had been party to the Convention since 1967. The State party had been trying to implement the Convention in various ways. Cyprus was a small island with big problems. Willingness to address these problems was important. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ latest statement on the country said that the division of Cyprus since the Turkish invasion was the most significant obstacle to ensuring the realisation of human rights for all people of Cyprus. The Committee would discuss the human rights landscape in the country in the dialogue.
Ms. Shephard said that the 2021 census did not provide full data of the ethnic composition of the population and asked for updated ethnicity information. The census showed that the population consisted largely of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, with minority communities of Armenians and Maronites. Some 15 per cent of the citizens of Cyprus were born in non-European Union countries. What percentage of the population were Roma, Africans, people of African descent, and migrants who had become citizens?
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about the legal framework covering the Roma, people of African descent, and Black Europeans. How had the State party worked to incorporate the Convention in its legal framework? The national question and ethnic conflict had resulted in a weak anti-discrimination tradition in Cyprus. Could the delegation present the State party’s legal framework on anti-discrimination? How had the courts applied the Convention? The State party needed to report on the implementation of the Convention in its territory, including in areas not under its control.
Cyprus' hate crime statistics did not adequately distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. Had steps been taken to revise the criminal legislation pertaining to hate speech and remedies available to victims; provide suitable training to police officers, prosecutors and judges on combatting hate speech and hate crime; and develop awareness-raising measures for persons and groups targeted by hate speech to make them aware of their rights and of the possibility to obtain redress?
The criminal justice system was criticised for rarely applying laws on hate speech and crimes, leading to a lack of consequences for perpetrators. There were cases where hate speech laws were not consistently applied and Government officials and church leaders often escaped accountability. The law was often seen as limited to specific forms of racism and xenophobia. The Ombudsman lacked the authority to initiate or participate directly in court proceedings on behalf of victims. Further, victims of discrimination were reportedly deterred from reporting incidents. What legal and policy programmes had been developed and adopted to address these concerns and deficiencies in law and implementation?
The law on combatting racism and xenophobia was repealed in 2017 and replaced with a broader law that covered racist, xenophobic and homophobic motivation. However, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community reportedly continued to face long-standing marginalisation, with some experiencing harassment from the authorities. What steps were being taken to protect this community in Cyprus? How was the State party addressing homophobia and promoting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community? What training had law enforcement staff received in protecting members of this community from violence and effective prosecution?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Cyprus had a diverse population. Greek Cypriots constituted around 77 per cent of the population, while Turkish Cypriots accounted for around 18 per cent, alongside smaller populations of Maronites, Armenians and Latins, who all played a valuable role in the State’s identity. Of foreign residents in the State, 93,500 were European Union citizens, primarily from Greece, and 107,000 were non-European Union citizens.
Religious groups elected representatives to the House of Representatives and participated in meetings of the Parliament. Members of religious groups and ethnic minorities were eligible to apply for positions in the civil service. Exam papers for the foreign service were also provided in Turkish language for Turkish Cypriots. The State party supported all efforts to eradicate discrimination against people of African descent and was fully committed to implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. It was working to strengthen existing anti-discrimination laws and stepping up protection from hate crimes and hate speech, fostering inclusion in society and building anti-racism partnerships at all levels.
The Criminal Code and other laws explicitly prohibited hate crimes and hate speech. The principle of equality and non-discrimination was enshrined in the Constitution. Cyprus continued to review and strengthen its national legal and institutional framework to ensure comprehensive protection against all forms of racial discrimination. The State had adopted the victim rights law, which set out minimum standards for the protection of victims, including from secondary victimisation. Recently, the Supreme Court made a landmark judgement that overturned a decision by a district court, holding that racist motivation needed to be taken into consideration by courts in determining penalties. This created an important legal norm that subsequent cases referenced.
Police had set up an office that dealt with crimes related to discrimination and racism and had designated liaison officers who supervised investigations of crimes related to discrimination or hate crimes. The Police recorded and published data on racially motivated offences and had trained around 400 officers on responding to racist offences. The principle of equality was included in the Police Code of Ethics. Hate crime offences were investigated by the criminal investigation department or police stations depending on their seriousness, and police officers assessed whether offences had racist motives.
The Criminal Code had been amended to criminalise pseudo-conversion therapies and to increase penalties for discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. The State party was developing a strategy on protection of this group.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked how effectively hate crime laws were being implemented on the ground.
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked how the judiciary made use of the Convention. How had article one of the Convention been adopted in the State’s legal framework? How was the State party ensuring that the equal treatment law covered all areas of public life?
Cyprus ratified the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in 1963 and its 1967 Protocol but had not ratified the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons nor the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. What steps were being taken to accede to these Conventions? Would the State party consider establishing a national statelessness determination procedure in line with international standards, and take measures to ensure that no child born in Cyprus was left without a nationality? What training was provided to judges and lawyers on the Convention?
Immigration enforcement agents and police officers reportedly used ethnic profiling and were perpetrators of racially motivated violence. There had been racist speeches by individuals and public figures. For example, racist utterances directed at French-born Benin footballer Mickael Pote, who was called a “slave” by players and fans of the opponent team. How had these cases been investigated? What programmes were in place for training law enforcement agents regarding unconscious bias? Would the State establish clear and independent oversight mechanisms to monitor the use of racially discriminatory practices such as ethnic profiling?
The criminal justice system was not effectively responding to racist offences generally, with few being recorded in 2014. Victims of such violence often refrained from going to the police due to fear of the police system. The Office for Combatting Discrimination was reported to be understaffed and overloaded with other mandates, which resulted in limited capacity and resources to monitor racist crime. Could information on cases of racist offences investigated by the criminal justice system be provided? What efforts could be made to empower the Office for Combatting Discrimination?
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said that the State party had submitted a follow-up report to the Committee’s previous concluding observations within the required time in 2018. The concluding observations had called for information on the implementation of the law on combatting certain forms of racism and xenophobia. The Committee noted the repeal of section eight of this law, and of the entry into force of provisions of the Criminal Code which addressed prejudicial motives based on race, colour, ethnicity or descent as aggravating factors in offences. However, it expressed concern that incidents of hate crimes motivated by nationality and ethnic origin had significantly increased. Had there been a decrease in such hate crimes since 2018?
Another Committee Expert asked questions on how different kinds of discrimination crimes were defined in State law, measures to facilitate access to support services for victims of discrimination, and remedies available to these persons.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there had been an increase in reports of hate crimes in recent years, indicating that people trusted the complaints procedure. There had been 81 convictions for hate crimes thus far.
The judicial training school established in 2020 provided training programmes to judges that covered non-discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent and national or ethnic origin. Practicing lawyers were required to complete training on human rights law, refugee and migrant issues, and United Nations conventions. Training organised by the Police Academy addressed topics including combatting racial discrimination, xenophobia and corruption. Asylum officers and reception centre staff also received yearly training on issues such as vulnerability identification and prevention of violence against women.
State legislation ensured that third country nationals, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection could access the healthcare system. Asylum seekers were granted access to free public healthcare services and emergency health care services were available to all persons without discrimination. Authorities were considering ratification of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Questions by Committee Experts
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that despite the commendable work of many non-governmental organizations, their ability to support migrants had been limited due to rules introduced in 2017. Few non-governmental organizations were working on issues related to Turkish Cypriots, the Roma and asylum seekers. What steps had been taken to ensure that non-governmental organizations were not prevented from conducting awareness raising campaigns on racial discrimination?
Cyprus was one of two European Union Member States that had not adopted a national anti-racism action plan or a comprehensive national strategy against racism. When would Cyprus adopt such a plan or strategy? What institutions in Cyprus were working on the issue of equality? What measures were in place to expand the mandate of the Ombudsperson to allow it to tackle issues related to racism more broadly? Which public officers were being trained to address issues of racism? How would the State party establish a comprehensive monitoring system for hate speech? What legal and policy instruments had been developed to allow racism in the media to be monitored?
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the previous concluding observations expressed concern about racially motivated verbal abuse and physical attacks against persons of foreign origin. Public discourse had reportedly become increasingly xenophobic and anti-Black racism had become more visible, in particular during election periods. Anti-migrant sentiment was often linked with anti-Turkish and anti-Muslim narratives, with Muslim migrants and asylum seekers being accused of changing the country’s demography.
The Committee welcomed steps taken to eradicate verbal violence and aggression against persons of foreign origin, including children in schools. The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth had developed a 2018-2022 national strategy for preventing and combatting school violence. However, there were still too many incidents of verbal violence and aggression against persons of foreign origin. What measures and monitoring and reporting mechanisms could the State party put in place to eradicate this phenomenon? Could data for 2021-2025 be provided on the number of reported incidents of verbal violence and aggression against persons of foreign origin and the outcome of any investigations or prosecutions?
Hate speech reportedly remained widespread, with no comprehensive monitoring system. Victims had no remedy to challenge prosecutorial decisions. What progress had the State party made in adopting hate speech legislation? The “AWARE” campaign, which aimed to fight xenophobia, was laudable, as was the implementation of the “Imagine” anti-racism project, which aimed at increasing contact between students and teachers from the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities. However, hate speech affecting several groups remained widespread in Cypriot public discourse, and online racist comments against foreigners had become more pronounced in Cyprus in recent years.
Prompt condemnation of racist hate speech by public figures, including members of Parliament, remained sporadic. In February 2021, the code of principles and ethics for members of Parliament entered into force, which prohibited hate speech, incitement to violence, and sexist and racist behaviour by members of Parliament. How effective had the code been? What monitoring and evaluation strategies had been put in place to address this issue and what sanctions were imposed?
Anti-Black racism affecting migrants of African descent and Black football players had become increasingly visible in recent years. What steps were being taken to address “Afro-phobia” in the State party? Had any mechanisms been established to monitor hate speech incidents involving the police, prosecution service, courts and civil society? The prosecution service reportedly had unlimited discretion to decide whether to press charges in hate speech cases; how was this addressed? How many prosecutions and convictions for racist or xenophobic speech had occurred since 2021?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Police had strengthened cooperation with non-governmental organizations through memoranda of understanding, which supported efforts to protect vulnerable persons, including migrants. The Police also had a partnership with the Red Cross that aimed to ensure dignified detention conditions. The legal framework did not exclude non-governmental organizations from registration if their statutes were in line with constitutional principles.
The Ombudsperson played a central role in addressing discrimination. Its mandate was broad and included combatting racism and safeguarding equality. It could investigate complaints of racial discrimination. Additional staffing was necessary for the Ombudsperson since it was granted “A” status in 2022 due to the expansion of its mandate. The State party was working to implement the European Union directive on equality bodies in its efforts to strengthen the Ombudsperson.
Cyprus was committed to promoting substantive equality and non-discrimination. It was working to implement the European Union anti-racism strategy for 2026 to 2030 and the European Union strategy on victims’ rights, which included measures to enhance the protection of victims’ rights.
In 2020, 36 cases of verbal assault and hate speech acts were reported, while in 2024, there were 48 cases reported. Between 2020 and 2024, 81 convictions had been reached regarding hate speech cases. The police were continuing to work to prevent discrimination and effectively investigate relevant offences.
The State and non-governmental organizations provided training for teachers to prevent discrimination in schools, including ethnically motivated exclusion. Measures had been taken at all levels of education to prevent school violence. A new legislative framework and national strategy on the prevention of school violence was introduced in 2024, which offered new tools to ensure safe school environments. A comprehensive research project was conducted from 2020 to 2024 on school violence, which informed policy decisions. An electronic monitoring system for school violence had been launched, through which schools reported 510 incidents between 2024 and 2025. Among these incidents, 53 were based on racism. The State party had organised a competition promoting active citizenship and recognising schools that had successfully implemented anti-violence initiatives.
The radio and television broadcasters law was amended in 2021 to include several provisions to address discriminatory content. Media service providers were now required to ensure that media content did not contain material that incited violence or hatred. Between 2020 and 2025, the Cyprus Radio, Television and Digital Services Authority examined various cases against broadcasters regarding issues of racial discrimination.
Questions by Committee Experts
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed increased regulation of the media related to racist hate speech. The State party needed to study the Committee’s general recommendations on xenophobia against migrants and on racial profiling. Had fines that were recently introduced led to a decrease in racist incidents during football matches? Why were these incidents prevalent?
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said a coordinator of religious groups was established within the Presidential Commissioner’s office, but this coordinator did not have sufficient resources and their mandate did not extend to the Roma. Could more information on the coordinator be provided? Despite the preventative measures in place, racist bullying took place in schools. Children of African descent often felt isolated in schools. How was this issue addressed?
One Committee Expert congratulated the State party on overhauling the legal status of the Ombudsperson, which led to its accreditation with “A” status. What measures were in place to increase its budget to conduct inquiries and other activities?
Other Committee Experts asked about measures to investigate and prevent attacks on non-governmental organizations, and training for the judiciary on the Convention.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party was aware of one incident of a member of Parliament making racist remarks. The Attorney General’s Office had investigated this case but had found that it did not meet the threshold for hate speech prosecution. Members of Parliament had immunity from prosecution but this could be lifted by the Attorney General when legal thresholds were reached.
The Presidential Commissioner was provided with a coordinator of religious groups to tackle issues faced by religious groups. The mandate of the coordinator had been expanded to cover the Roma.
State legislation included a law on digital safety and a code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online. Reports of racist incidents in schools showed that schools and teachers were more sensitised to racism. A conference had recently been held that promoted dialogue, understanding and action against racism and discrimination.
The State party was assessing the degree to which the national legal framework complied with the European Union directive on equality bodies and working to strengthen that framework. The State party would also work on developing specialised training for the judiciary on the Convention.
Questions by Committee Experts
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked for updated disaggregated data on the number of stateless persons, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the State party; and about applications and decisions for naturalisation since 2017? What measures were in place to protect the rights of stateless persons? Had the national action plan for the integration of third-country nationals legally residing in Cyprus been revised since 2017? What were its key priorities and how did it incorporate the Committee's recommendations? What were the goals and outcomes of the action plan for the education of pupils with migrant backgrounds for 2019 to 2022?
The Committee previously expressed concern about discrimination against non-citizens, including in employment and social assistance. Could information be provided on the situation of permanent residents from non-European countries, including their access to housing, education, health care, and basic services? How did the State ensure that they were not subject to discrimination in access to these rights?
The Committee previously expressed concern about the Kofinou reception centre and access to services. The 2019 report stated that asylum seekers were no longer detained solely due to rejection of their application. What specific improvements had been made at the Kofinou reception centre to address the Committee's concerns about limited facilities and insufficient access to services? What alternatives to detention were being used for asylum seekers and irregular migrants, and what was the average length of detention for them?
The Committee had previously emphasised the importance of ensuring protection against refoulement. Could data be provided on the asylum applications rejected and appeals lodged since 2017, disaggregated by country of origin? How many individuals were granted protection on the basis that return would violate the principle of non-refoulement? What mechanisms were in place to ensure that individuals were not returned to countries where they faced a real risk of serious harm?
There had been significant legislative amendments to strengthen the anti-trafficking framework, including increased penalties and criminalisation of the use of services of victims. Over the reporting period, how many victims were identified and how many had received protection and support services? How many trafficking cases resulted in prosecutions and convictions, and how many victims received reparations or compensation? How did the national action plan against trafficking in human beings address the protection and support of victims, including access to housing, health care, and legal remedies?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Cyprus condemned all forms of racism and xenophobia in sport, including football, and approached such acts through its criminal justice framework and disciplinary mechanisms of sporting authorities. Relevant laws criminalised public incitement to violence or hatred on grounds of race or ethnicity. Cyprus remained committed to eliminating racist and xenophobic incidents in sport.
The incident referred to by the Committee occurred during a football match in 2020. The abuse came from an individual inside the stadium, who was removed from the venue. The player subsequently filed a complaint, which was investigated by the Ombudsperson, who called on the Police and the Football Association to take immediate action to investigate the incident. This process was underway. Cypriot law provided that anyone in a sporting venue who used racist or abusive slogans or symbols was guilty of a misdemeanour and subject to imprisonment for not longer than six months or a fine not exceeding 1,000 euros, or both.
Domestic courts primarily referred to the European Union’s legal framework related to racial discrimination, which incorporated the Convention.
Cyprus had experienced acute asylum pressure from 2017 to 2022, when it received 21,000 new asylum applications. Applications had dropped significantly since then – the State had received around 500 new applications from 2022 to 2026. Around 3,800 applications were approved in 2024. The total number of pending cases as of March 2026 was around 15,000. The current low level of applications allowed the State to focus on reducing the backlog. The State continued to apply individual assessment of asylum claims and uphold the principle of non-refoulement.
Asylum centres had been subject to continuous renovation using European funds. The Kofinou reception centre had been upgraded and its capacity increased from 450 to 750 people. Old facilities in the centre would be upgraded to prefabricated units in 2027. A new reception centre was also under development and was expected to be completed by September 2026; it would be able to host 1,000 refugees.
Cyprus was party to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. The State assumed responsibility for refugee status determination in 2022. Every asylum seeker who resided in Cyprus was protected from refoulement. In cases of rejection of asylum applications, return orders were postponed when appeals were filed.
Social Welfare Services provided reception conditions for asylum seekers who could not be accommodated in reception centres. Vulnerable families and children were given priority in arrangements of temporary housing. In 2020, the Council of Ministers approved a decree to cover the living expenses of families with children and vulnerable applicants to cover temporary accommodation for up to three months.
Trafficking victims received immediate support, including financial and psychological support and accommodation. In 2019, trafficking policies were reformed to improve the identification and referral of victims and improve data collection. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Police and Social Welfare Services in 2022 on referral and support for trafficking victims. Social Services launched a unit in 2023 for managing cases of trafficking in persons.
Asylum seekers were granted access to the labour market nine months after the submission of their application, and only within sectors in which there was a shortage of Cypriot and European Union workers. A comprehensive framework for the employment of non-European Union citizens was recently developed, which ensured decent working conditions for these persons, including appropriate pay, working hours and conditions. Non-citizens could submit complaints of workplace discrimination to the District Labour Relations Office for resolution. Complaints could be forwarded to authorities for investigation of trafficking or sexual offences or inappropriate living conditions. The Labour Inspectorate conducted regular inspections at least once a year to prevent trafficking and exploitation of workers. In 2025, it revoked the licences of 21 private agencies that violated legal provisions.
The general health system ensured access to health services for refugees and asylum seekers who met specific legal conditions. Asylum seekers were granted access to free public health care services outside the system during the examination of their applications. Emergency health services were provided to all persons regardless of whether they had a residence permit. Trafficking victims had access to regular health services and a dedicated support centre that offered psychological support.
Questions by Committee Experts
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked if the education system was used as a medium for promoting tolerance and understanding in society and combatting racial discrimination. Most victims of trafficking identified in Cyprus were people of African descent. How was the education system used to address stereotypes linked to past chattel enslavement practices? How did the State party assess the impact of its policies on racial discrimination?
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the Committee was concerned by the broad definition of “prohibited immigrant” in legislation. What efforts were being made to amend this law so that asylum seekers waiting for their applications to be assessed were not labelled as “prohibited immigrants”? The European Court of Human Rights was assessing a case of interception of Syrian nationals at sea by Cypriot authorities. Cyprus was accused of denying access to the asylum procedure and returning individuals to countries where they faced persecution. In 2025, five incidents of pushbacks of boats were recorded involving 161 Syrian nations. Three interceptions took place in May and June involving 80 Syrian nations, which led to direct returns of Syrians without due regard for the principle of non-refoulement. What steps was Cyprus taking to prevent collective expulsions and cases of refoulement?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on measures put in place to ensure that women and girls, including asylum seekers, could access information on sexual and reproductive health; the profile of trafficking victims and the kinds of trafficking offences recorded, and efforts to identify victims of trafficking and punish perpetrators; measures planned to ratify the 1954 and 1961 conventions on statelessness; and plans to consider acts of racism in sport as criminal offences.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the ratification of the 1954 Convention related to the Status of Stateless Persons remained under scrutiny by the authorities. According to State law, stateless persons were recognised as refugees or persons granted with subsidiary protection. They had access to free medical care, education and the labour market. There was no discrimination in the consideration of applications for nationality by stateless persons.
Offices dedicated to combatting trafficking in persons within the Police had been operating since 2015. Cyprus’ trafficking legislation was in line with relevant European Union legislation. Since 2020, the State party had shifted to a victim-centred approach, which led to an increase in convictions for trafficking crimes. It had issued more than 24 convictions related to trafficking since 2019, including the first conviction of a person who received sexual services from a victim of sexual exploitation. There were 33 cases of trafficking pending court investigation.
The national action plan on trafficking in persons for 2023 to 2026 included measures on supporting victims, preventing the phenomenon, and coordinating with non-governmental organizations in the field. Training was organised for frontline officers and other stakeholders on identifying and responding to trafficking cases. The State informed victims about the support and compensation that they were entitled to. Victims could be transferred to shelters run by the Government or non-governmental organizations. A hotline and online platform had been set up for anonymously reporting cases of trafficking. Cyprus had set up a joint investigation team with other countries to address sham marriages.
Education played a crucial role in challenging harmful stereotypes about people of African descent. Schools countered one-dimensional narratives and promoted more accurate understanding of diversity. Teachers were trained to recognise and address bias, use respectful language, and respond effectively to racist incidents.
Sexual and reproductive health services were available to all. A national strategy was established in 2018 on the sexual and reproductive health of young people. It included measures addressing birth control, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, and preventing violence. The strategy ended in 2025 and was now being evaluated.
Under the civil registry law, persons born in Cyprus to regularised parents were granted citizenship.
Questions by Committee Experts
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, cited reports that authorities had detained or initiated deportation proceedings against trafficking victims, particularly victims in the sex industry. How would this practice be prevented? The State party was reportedly not proactively working to prevent labour trafficking. What policy frameworks addressed trafficking in persons in agriculture and construction?
As of August 2025, only persons with valid Cyprus citizenship or European Union citizen cards were allowed to cross from the north to the south of the country. This rule restricted Turkish Cypriots and other foreigners. What efforts were being made to prevent discrimination against people attempting to enter the south of the country from the north? The State party had stated in 2003 that it aimed to support Turkish Cypriots to access employment in Government-controlled areas. What progress had been made in this regard?
Children of mixed marriages were often prevented from gaining Cypriot citizenship. Persons who applied for public servant positions needed to undergo Greek language proficiency tests, which inhibited access to these roles for Turkish Cypriots. Turkish was an official Government language but its use in certain areas remained extremely limited. How was the Turkish language being promoted?
There were more than 1,300 persons who identified as Roma in Cyprus. Within the Roma community, there were high poverty and unemployment rates and low educations rates. Roma children had high dropout rates, and attendance in upper secondary education was extremely low. Housing conditions for many Roma families remained sub-standard, with houses lacking access to electricity, water and sanitation. There were reports of persistent exclusion and bias against the Roma in society. What efforts were being made to ensure that Roma people could enjoy their rights?
People of African descent and Black Europeans were victims of discrimination in various fields of life, including employment, healthcare and the criminal justice system. How was this being addressed?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that as a frontline European Union Member State, Cyprus continued to face challenges related to arrivals by sea. It remained committed to the principle of non-refoulement and did not conduct or join pushback operations. Its joint rescue coordination centre effectively monitored the search and rescue area under its responsibility. It participated in incidents involving the identification of vessels that could be carrying migrants so as to protect their lives.
Police never deported victims of trafficking. Social workers informed victims of their right to access legal assistance and their right to apply for international protection and asylum.
The “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” was not recognised by any State other than Türkiye. The movement of people from the occupied area to areas under the control of the Government was regulated by the Green Line regulation. Since April 2003, several crossing points had been set up; they were most recently expanded in 2024. Entry into Cyprus though ports or airports in the Turkish occupied north was considered illegal and could lead to fines, prosecution or entry bans. The Government could not provide consular protection or guarantee protection in areas under occupation.
Under the Constitution, both Greek and Turkish were recognised as official languages of the Republic. The websites of Government services provided information in Greek, Turkish and English. Exams for public service positions were open to all candidates. Exam papers for the foreign service were provided in both Greek and Turkish. Free Turkish language courses were offered by the State, as were Greek courses for Turkish Cypriot citizens.
Roma people living in Cyprus were considered to be citizens of the Republic. There were 243 Roma people recorded in the 2021 census. Roma people could enjoy all citizens’ rights, including access to State services without discrimination. The national strategic framework for the Roma included measures to address social problems and promote synergies with local authorities. Roma people who had financial problems were able to apply for the minimum guaranteed income, which included a rent allowance.
Education in Cyprus was compulsory up to the age of 15 years. The State closely monitored school attendance and implemented targeted interventions to prevent early school leaving. Turkish Cypriots and Cypriot Roma pupils could attend the private or public school of their choice. The Government fully subsidised school fees for such pupils. The State party employed Turkish Cypriot teachers who taught Turkish language, history, Muslim religion, and other social issues. Schools provided free breakfast for Cypriot Roma pupils identified as being at high risk of school failure.
The Cypriot Roma community continued to enjoy the right to work in the State free of discrimination. They had equal and non-discriminatory access to the labour market, training, and free-of-charge job seeking services. European Union-funded schemes supported labour market integration efforts. Roma individuals had access to healthcare on an equal basis with others.
Questions by Committee Experts
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked whether fines for acts of discrimination in sport were sufficient. After gaining independence in 1960, did Cyprus update educational curricula to implement decolonial education? This would help to tackle discrimination against people of African descent.
CHRISPINE GWALAWALA SIBANDE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the State party prosecuted persons who entered from the north of the country, violating the principle of equal treatment. Were efforts being made to open more crossing points and promote the free movement of people? The Constitutional Court had rejected an appeal related to the denial of citizenship of a person born in Cyprus in 1978 to a Turkish Cypriot mother and a Turkish father. What efforts were being made to ensure the equal treatment of people in the north and the south? Public service job announcements were published by the State party only in Greek; would they also be published in Turkish?
One Committee Expert welcomed that the State party had recognised the Committee’s jurisdiction to receive individual complaints and ratified Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provided for a general prohibition of discrimination. The Expert also welcomed that in one primary school in Limassol, Roma pupils were offered free breakfast and lunch each day and given tablets for online education. Was this a standard practice across the State?
Other Committee Experts asked questions on how the State party evaluated the progress of the peace and reconciliation process; whether the State supported peace initiatives, including those led by and involving women; and whether Cyprus was implementing practical modalities for regularising people who entered from the north.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Government had exclusive jurisdiction to determine legal entry points into Cyprus. Entering through airports and seaports in the occupied territory was illegal. The airport in this territory was operating illegally and had not been recognised by any country except Türkiye.
Talks on the resolution of the Cyprus issue were ongoing. The State party had reiterated its commitment to achieving a settlement based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality. The State hoped for a resumption of negotiations in this regard. A settlement needed to safeguard the rights of all citizens, respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and redress past and ongoing violations of human rights. Bi-communal technical committees had been appointed, which included committees on youth and women’s rights. There were still cases of technical committees’ work being impeded; for example, the Turkish Cypriot side refused to participate in the peace education project “Imagine”, which promoted peace and reconciliation through education.
Cyprus had the separation of powers and the judiciary acted independently in imposing fines. However, the Law Commissioner could recommend increases in fines if she found them to be insufficient.
The law regulating Cypriot nationality did not discriminate based on nationality, gender or place of residence of the parents. Restrictions only applied in cases of illegal entry or stay of a foreign parent. In these cases, a decision from the Council of Ministers was required to grant nationality.
Some of the support measures for Roma children offered in the primary school mentioned were specific to that school, while others were offered nation-wide. Regarding history education, the State party encouraged pupils to engage with the past through multiple viewpoints and supported the development of tolerance, dialogue and democratic citizenship. It paid particular attention to decolonisation and how colonial legacies shaped social attitudes, and featured voices that had historically been marginalised.
Cyprus had developed a national action plan on the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution on women, peace and security, which had been published on Government websites.
Closing Remarks
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, thanked the State party for submitting its follow-up report to the previous concluding observations and called on it to submit a new follow-up report within one year after the Committee issued its concluding observations based on the present dialogue.
VERENE ALBERTHA SHEPHERD, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, thanked the State party for the delegation’s frank and open responses to the Committee’s questions and all those who had contributed to the dialogue. She called on Cyprus to commit to article two of the Convention, which called on States to implement a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and to ensure that no one was subjected to practices of racial discrimination.
SOPHIA KLEOPA HADJIKYRIAKOU, Director of the Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities of Cyprus and head of the delegation, said that the delegation had presented the policies, laws and measures adopted during the period under review regarding Cyprus’ compliance with the letter and spirit of Convention. She reaffirmed Cyprus’ strong will and commitment to the effective implementation of the Convention and to ongoing strengthening of measures aimed at preventing and combatting racial discrimination. Cyprus attached great importance to dialogue with the Committee and supported continuous efforts to enhance legislation, institutions, policies and practices in line with its international obligations. The dialogue had given the State party much food for thought. It looked forward to receiving the concluding observations once they were adopted, and to continuing its cooperation with the Committee in the years ahead.
GÜN KUT, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the frank and constructive dialogue. He expressed regret that, due to his position as Chair, he was unable to contribute to the lively discussion. Based on the information presented, the Committee would develop concluding observations.
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CED26.004E