‘Significant progress’ made on tackling racism in Cyprus

Significant progress in tackling racial discrimination in Cyprus has been made over the past decade, Law Commissioner Sofia Kleopa Hadjikyriakou told a United Nations committee in Geneva.

She was speaking during a review that also saw experts raise concerns over hate speech and movement restrictions.

Presenting a report on Cyprus’ implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Hadjikyriakou stressed that Cyprus attaches “particular importance” to the convention and has, since 2016, made “important progress” through national action plans, policies and legislative reforms aimed at combating racial discrimination.

At the same time, she said that the government cannot ensure implementation of the convention in areas not under its control.

The review also focused heavily on ongoing challenges.

Committee members raised concerns that racist hate speech remains widespread in Cyprus, with particular reference to incidents targeting black individuals, including football players. Experts asked what progress had been made in adopting legislation and monitoring mechanisms to address such speech.

UN experts also referred to a recent ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus, which rejected an appeal concerning the denial of citizenship to a person born in Cyprus in 1978 to a Turkish Cypriot mother and a Turkish father. They raised the issue in connection with broader concerns about equal treatment, asking what measures were being taken to ensure non-discrimination between individuals living in the government-controlled areas and those in the north.

According to the Cypriot delegation, citizenship applications are examined within the framework of the Republic’s laws, with restrictions only applying in cases of illegal entry or stay of a foreign parent.

In her concluding remarks, Hadjikyriakou reaffirmed Cyprus’ “strong will and commitment” to effectively implement the convention and to continue strengthening measures to prevent and combat racial discrimination.

The committee, composed of 18 independent experts, is tasked with monitoring how states implement the convention and conducts periodic reviews through public dialogues in Geneva.

Following the discussions, the committee will issue formal concluding observations outlining its concerns and recommendations for Cyprus.

Hadjikyriakou said these findings would be carefully examined, and, if necessary, further recommendations would be submitted to the government to enhance compliance with the convention and strengthen human rights protections.