A/HRC/26/14
Trafficking in Human Beings, developing the 2010–2012 National Action Plan, training
government officials and establishing international cooperation with other States.
91.
Since the abolition of the artist’s visa and the introduction of a new system with
stringent criteria, numerous establishments, primarily cabarets, that employed women who
faced an increased risk of sexual exploitation had gone out of business. The new work
permit for performing artists required that artists’ qualifications and the establishments that
employed them were thoroughly checked. As a result, the risk of trafficking had been
significantly reduced, as the number of operational cabarets had fallen from 73 in 2009 to
16, while the number of work permits issued for performing artists at cabarets and
nightclubs had dropped dramatically between September 2012 and August 2013 in
comparison to previous years.
92.
The 2013–2015 National Action Plan against trafficking in human beings
established a comprehensive framework for addressing the crime. It had been based on an
evaluation of the 2010–2012 Plan and the recommendations of the working groups
appointed to that end, and had been approved by the Council of Ministers on 10 April 2013.
It took into consideration the provisions of the EU Directive on preventing and combating
trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, the EU Strategy towards the
Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012–2016 and the recommendations of the
Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The
2013–2015 National Action Plan covered all aspects of the issue, included practical
measures and actions to be implemented within specified time frames and provided for the
financing of the operations.
93.
A person recognized as a refugee received the same treatment as that received by
citizens of the Republic, under the relevant laws and regulations. Asylum seekers were
protected from refoulement and had full access to housing, employment and social support,
as provided by the Refugee Law. National legislation provided that asylum seekers had the
right to legal assistance before the Supreme Court free of charge, as required by the
relevant EU Directive (2005/85/EC).
94.
For Cyprus, any police misconduct, including ill-treatment, racist attitudes and any
other inappropriate behaviour, was unacceptable. A series of measures had been adopted to
eliminate police misconduct, such as the appointment of a high-ranking officer to address
complaints of police misconduct brought by the public and the launch of a website for
online complaints submission. The police authorities were currently working in close
cooperation with the Ombudsman to prepare a professional code of practice that set out the
conditions, means of restraint and basic principles of professional conduct at every stage of
police action. Police officers received continuous professional training.
95.
The material conditions in police detention centres had recently been assessed by
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment and had been found to be satisfactory in many respects. All police detention
centres were regularly renovated in order to ensure that they met human rights standards
and norms.
96.
A number of measures had recently been implemented in an effort to reform the
prison system to bring it into full compliance with human rights standards and norms. The
Ombudsman had confirmed that those measures would assist in implementing her
recommendations. A number of specific steps aimed to improve detention conditions,
protect vulnerable persons and provide alternatives to imprisonment.
97.
A more individual-oriented policy aimed at improving the well-being of prisoners,
providing for school programmes, sports activities and vocational work. Training of prison
staff was an important aspect. Special emphasis was given to developing interpersonal
communication skills based on respect for human dignity.
13
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents