There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in the Republic of Cyprus in 2023, says the US State Department's annual report on the state of human rights in the world.
The report is part of a series of reports on 198 countries and regions for the year 2023 published annually. The Cyprus Report also covers the occupied territories.
Republic of Cyprus
The Report on Cyprus begins by emphasizing that the government of the Republic of Cyprus is the only internationally recognized government on the island, "but since 1974 the northern third of Cyprus has been governed by Turkish Cypriots", as it states in the occupied territories.
"This area declared itself the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' in 1983. The United States does not recognize the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.' Turkey is the only country that recognizes it."
"A significant number of Turkish troops remain on the island. A neutral zone, or "Green Line", patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force, separates the two areas. This report covers developments in both communities."
In the Report it is noted that "there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in the Republic of Cyprus or in the area administered by the Turkish Cypriots during the year".
It said that significant human rights issues in the Republic of Cyprus included "credible reports of substantial interference with the freedom of association of non-governmental organizations, refoulement of asylum seekers to a country where they would face torture or persecution, and crimes involving violence or threats of violence aimed at members of national or ethnic minority groups, including foreign asylum seekers'.
It is noted that the government of the Republic of Cyprus took steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights violations, although there were limited cases of impunity, he said.
The laws of the Republic, it added, provided for freedom of expression, including the press and other media, and the government generally respected that right. An independent media, an effective judiciary and a functioning democratic political system together promote freedom of expression, including for members of the media, it said.
In addition, it is noted that the law and the Constitution of the Republic provided citizens with the opportunity to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.
With regard to corruption, it is noted that the laws of the Republic of Cyprus provided for criminal penalties for corruption by officials and the government generally implemented the law effectively. There were many reports of government corruption, it added.
In addition, local and international human rights groups in the Republic are reported to have generally operated without government restrictions to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. NGOs reported that government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, it added.
Turkish Cypriots
The report also refers to the "Turkish Cypriot-administered area", noting that significant human rights issues include harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the media , including violence or threats of violence against journalists, and enforcing or threatening to enforce criminal defamation laws to restrict expression.
In addition, it refers to substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including non-governmental organizations, restrictions on free movement and residence within the territory of a "state" and the right to exit from Turkish Cypriot-administered territory, repatriation refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they would face torture or persecution, serious "government" corruption, crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national or ethnic minorities, including foreign asylum seekers, and trafficking in persons, including forced labour.
The report also states that "authorities" in the Turkish Cypriot-administered region took limited credible steps to identify and punish "officials" who may have committed human rights abuses. There was evidence, however, of widespread impunity, he concludes.
The US State Department's annual report on the state of human rights in the world was presented by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who focused on human rights violations in Russia, Sudan, China, the Gaza Strip, Iran, Afghanistan and in Cuba.
The State Department cites Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the civil war in Sudan, and the Israel-Hamas war as some of the major global events of human rights concern.
The exhibition, as every year, is divided into chapters by country.
Source: KYPE