Cyprus communications: May 1, 2011 to February 28, 2017

This page summarizes cases raised with Cyprus by the Special Rapporteur between May 1, 2011, (when the Special Rapporteur took up his functions) and February 28, 2017 (the date of the last public release of communications). Communications are released to the public once per year. This page also contains observations on these communications and on responses received from Cyprus.

Communications and observations are divided into sections based upon which observation report they originally appeared.

Each communication is referenced as urgent appeal (UA), allegation letter (AL), joint urgent appeal (JUA) and joint allegation letter (JAL) – the hyperlinks lead to these documents. This is followed by the date the communication was issued, as well as the case number and the State reply (also hyperlinked if available).

Summaries and communications are published only in the language of submission (in the case of Cyprus, English).

First Report (May 1, 2011 to March 15, 2012)

Joint allegation letter, 20/07/2011. Case no. CYP 1/2011. State Reply: 15/09/2011. Alleged charges brought against human rights activist.

Observations
The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Government for its response to his communication dated 20 July 2011, which sought to clarify the allegations concerning two parallel assemblies which ended with violence.

The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that assemblies should not be deemed peaceful if organizers and participants do not have peaceful intentions. Considering that the allegations that the march organized by the Greek Resistance Movement against the multicultural Rainbow Festival openly insulted other communities, including Turks, Jews, Muslims or Refugees are still credible, greater efforts are required to ensure adequate protection. In this connection, the State has a positive obligation to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is protected against any disruptive or provocative agent. In the event of competing assemblies that do not constitute a risk for violence, the Special Rapporteur considers that the State has also a responsibility to promote tolerance and understanding among the different views.

Second Report (March 16, 2012 to February 28, 2013)

None

Third Report (March 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014)

None

Fourth Report (March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015)

Joint allegation letter, 05/06/2014. Case no: CYP 3/2014. State reply: 05/08/2014. Alleged acts of intimidation and reprisals against a human rights defender for his cooperation with the United Nations Committee Against Torture.

Observations

Responses to communications
The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Cyprus for the detailed reply to his joint communication, indicating that the Executive Director of Action for Support, Equality and Antiracism was duly informed of the warrant issued against him by written notice in 2007, 2013 and orally in two occasions in 2014 (CYP 3/2014). In this connection, he is grateful for the cooperation extended to the mandate, in compliance with Human Rights Council resolutions 24/5 (2013), 21/16 (2012) and 15/21 (2010).

Environment in which the right to freedom of association is exercised
The special Rapporteur notes with appreciation the launching of specialized human rights courses to sensitize the Cyprus Police Academy and the existing independent mechanisms for monitoring and investigating human rights’ violations. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Government of its obligation to promote and protect a vibrant civil society, and to ensure a conducive environment to the free exercise of the right of association; a right enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Cyprus on 2 April 1969.