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Universal Periodic Review 32: Cyprus

The UK welcomed Cyprus’ efforts to combat human trafficking and modern slavery, but urged Cyprus to guarantee citizenship to all Turkish Cypriot children.

• From: UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)
• Published: 29 January 2019

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Thank you, Mr President,

The UK recognises human rights progress made by Cyprus, including efforts to combat human trafficking and modern slavery, and to protect and promote women’s rights through the implementation of its National Action Plan for Gender Equality.

However, the UK is concerned by the deprivation of citizenship to Turkish Cypriot children with one parent who is a non-Cypriot national.

We have three recommendations:

1. Strengthen the capacity of the labour inspectorate to proactively identify victims of forced labour, particularly among vulnerable populations, and provide them with means of legal redress.

2. Review and amend relevant legal provisions, guaranteeing the right of all persons who have one Cypriot parent to obtain Republic of Cyprus nationality, on an equal basis with others, irrespective of the other parent’s ethnicity, gender, place of residence or means of entering the country.
3. Adopt an open, merit-based selection process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.

Thank you, Mr President.

Published 29 January 2019