A/HRC/26/14
Another important development was the cooperation of the police with UNHCR and the
Ombudsman in drafting of a code of conduct for checking migrants’ residence status.
15.
Prison reform was a high priority for the Government. A programme of short-,
medium- and long-term measures had been adopted. Prison leadership and management
teams were undergoing considerable restructuring in order to ensure that prison conditions
respected inmates’ human rights, in particular their dignity. The prison system was
currently shifting from an over-controlling approach to a human rights-based approach.
16.
As for the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people’s
rights, a bill criminalizing public incitement to discriminatory, hateful or violent acts
against persons because of their sexual orientation or identity was pending before
Parliament. Moreover, a bill regulating the civil partnership pact for same and opposite sex
couples was currently open for consultation between government agencies and NGOs with
a view to its enactment before the end of 2014.
17.
Cyprus was determined to take significant measures in the fight against xenophobia.
The relevant 2011 legislation criminalized public incitement to violence or hatred by
reference to race, colour, religion, descent, and national or ethnic origin, and racist and
xenophobic motivations constituted aggravating circumstances. The measures currently
being implemented were a “No Hate Speech” television campaign, the drafting of an antiracist glossary by the Cyprus Youth Organization in cooperation with the AntiDiscrimination Body, and the publication of a policy report for multicultural education,
promoting the integration of non-native students.
18.
Cyprus noted that, owing to the continued illegal foreign occupation of 36.2 per cent
of the territory of the country since 1974, the Government was not in a position to ensure
the application of human rights instruments in the area that was not under its effective
control. It could not therefore submit reliable information on the enjoyment of the relevant
rights by the population living in the occupied area of Cyprus.
B.
Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review
19.
During the interactive dialogue, 53 delegations made statements. The
recommendations made during the dialogue can be found in section II of the present report.
20.
Denmark commended Cyprus for enhancing the rights of migrants, refugees and
asylum seekers, despite the fact that holding facilities fell short of international standards. It
also commended Cyprus for enabling children of irregular migrants to access education. It
appreciated measures to combat human trafficking, but was concerned that the new work
permit system failed to detect sexual or labour exploitation. It made recommendations.
21.
Djibouti complimented Cyprus on the steps it had taken to fulfil its human rights
obligations by ratifying international instruments, which reflected its willingness to
cooperate with human rights mechanisms. It made recommendations.
22.
Ecuador commended Cyprus for its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (OP-CRPD), the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OP-CRC-AC) and the
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT). Ecuador also welcomed the legislative
amendments Cyprus had introduced aimed at ensuring equal treatment of men and women
in employment and vocational training, and equal pay for work of equal value. It
commended the adoption of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of
Domestic Violence. It made recommendations.
5
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