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Human Rights in Cyprus

The division of Cyprus into two parts based on ethnic origin and inhabitants as led to continual violence and feuds between the two groups. This has almost overshadowed the other issues of human right s prevalent in Cyprus.  One of the most pressing issues in Cyprus is prostitution.

It is one of the biggest markets for human trafficking of young girls. In the north there have been sporadic occasions of violation of freedom of speech. The members of the press have been manhandled as they have highlighted other fundamental violation of human rights and prostitution.

Crime against women in Cyprus is on the rise and incidences of domestic violence are pretty common. No law has been passed to stop the atrocities, and implementations of such laws seem to be far fetched. The extent of domestic violence is not restricted to maltreatment of women in the house but also to violence against maidservants, mentally, physically and sexually. The maltreatment of immigrant girls has also become an important issue. These girls have emigrated from third world countries in search of a secure job and better pay. These girls not only face atrocities in domesticities but also fall victim to the human trafficking and finally end up as prostitutes.

European Union membership has led to forcing the Cypriot Government to sit up and take notice of these issues but legal intervention is still far away. The European Union membership has also led the government to reverse the long held discrimination against homosexuality. Homosexuality is still taboo in Cyprus, as the long history of Cyprus does not allow legalizing relationships between two members of the same sex.

One other ground for human right violation is racism between the two groups residing in minority numbers in the occupied areas and in the republic of Cyprus. The treatment of foreign nationals in the Police Stations and Prison was one aspect which attracted the attention of Amnesty International.