Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

117th session

Geneva, 13 April–1 May 2026

Item 6 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted

by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes in relation to the twenty-fifth periodic report of Cyprus

Note by the Country Rapporteur *

1.The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy‑sixth session that the Country Rapporteur would send to the State Party concerned a short list of themes, with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State Party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State Party’s report. The present document contains a list of such themes. It is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

The Convention in domestic law and the institutional and policy framework for its implementation (arts. 1, 2, 4 and 6)

2.Updated demographic data on the ethnic composition of the population. Information on the enjoyment of economic and social rights by ethnic groups, and on the representation of ethnic minorities in public administration and services.

3.Information on the measures taken to bring the definition of racial discrimination in national legislation into full conformity with the definition provided in article 1 (1) of the Convention.

4.Updated information on measures taken, and the impact thereof, to strengthen the legal framework on racial discrimination.

5.Detailed information on cases in which legislation giving effect to the provisions of the Convention has been applied by the domestic courts, including updated data on the numbers of complaints of racial discrimination received, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators.

6.Updated information on the impact of policies and measures to implement the provisions of article 4 of the Convention and detailed information on acts of verbal violence and racist physical aggression committed against persons of foreign origin, including persons of African descent, against human rights defenders and against Turkish Cypriots by extremist groups, including by right-wing activists and neo-Nazi groups.

7.Measures taken to combat racist and xenophobic speech, and information on cases reported, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators.

8.Information on any drafting and subsequent implementation of a national plan to combat racism, and on the implementation of relevant legislation.

9.Measures taken to implement the recommendations made by the Committee and by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to bring the national human rights institution into full compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles).

10.Updated and detailed information on training opportunities and workshops on human rights, the prevention of racial discrimination and the rights enshrined in the Convention organized for representatives of public bodies, local government departments and associations, and law enforcement officers, judges and lawyers, and the impact of such training on the situation of minorities.

Situation of ethnic minorities (arts. 2 and 5)

11.Information on intercommunal initiatives to promote tolerance, harmony and dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, and to raise awareness of the country’s history through impartial education in schools and other public institutions. Updated information on efforts made to reach a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict in Cyprus and the division of the island, and to expand freedom of movement.

12.Updated information on the situation of Turkish Cypriots, including access to employment, education, housing and citizenship and the use of the Turkish language.

13.Updated information on whether the Roma community is discriminated against in terms of access to education, employment and decent living conditions and on racist attacks against members of the Roma community, including by law enforcement officers.

Situation of non-citizens, including stateless persons, migrants, refugees and asylum‑seekers (arts. 5 and 7)

14.Updated statistical data on the number of stateless persons, migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in the State Party and on applications for and decisions on naturalization, disaggregated by ethnic group, sex and length of stay in the State Party.

15.Updated information on revisions to the national action plan for the integration of third-country nationals legally residing in Cyprus, and information on how the Committee’s recommendations have been taken into account, including pertaining to the action plan developed for the period 2019–2022 on the education in Cyprus of pupils with a migrant background.

16.Information on the situation of permanent residents from countries that are not members of the European Union, including with regard to access without discrimination to housing, education, healthcare and basic services.

17.Information on measures taken, and the impact thereof, to end the prolonged detention of asylum-seekers and irregular migrants and on the use of alternatives to detention, and updated information on living conditions in detention centres, including the alleged separation of migrant mothers from their children.

18.Information on measures taken, and the impact thereof, to ensure protection against refoulement.

19.Information on initiatives to protect victims of and put an end to trafficking in persons in the State Party, including in the areas of the State Party not under its effective control.