Cyprus | HCRW

Cyprus has regularly reported hate crime data to ODIHR since 2018. In February 2022, the Cyprus Police and Ministry of Interior organized a workshop on understanding and improving hate crime recording and data collection in co-operation with ODIHR and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. The workshop was based on ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT), and resulted in a set of recommendations to relevant state authorities.

Hate crime data for each year are collected and published online by the Cyprus Police and its Human Rights and Combating Discrimination Office.

In 2017, the Cyprus Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights with 14 civil society organizations. The purpose of the Memorandum is to further improve and deepen co-operation between the parties for the protection and promotion of human rights.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2022 hate crime report for Cyprus

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2022	32	10	4
2021	33	Not available	Not available
2020	41	7	0
2019	40	6	0
2018	30	3	0
2017	Not available	Not available	Not available
2016	Not available	Not available	Not available
2015	Not available	Not available	Not available
2014	Not available	Not available	Not available
2013	Not available	Not available	Not available
2012	12	7	0
2011	15	13	2
2010	34	32	18
2009	8	16	3

About 2022 Data

The police recorded figure consists of 14 criminal cases and 18 complaints. The number of prosecuted cases represent the number of cases filed with the courts. The numbers presented here include hate speech offences, which fall outside of the OSCE's definition of hate crime but could not be disaggregated.

Download official data

National developments

The Cyprus Police has appointed two members of each District Department, with experience in investigative duties, as liaison officers with the Legal Department and the Human Rights and Combating Discrimination Office of the Police. In total, there are 12 liaison officers responsible for: co-ordinating and supervising the investigation of complaints concerning incidents or cases of discrimination, racism and/or racist motives or other related hate crimes; ensuring that the Human Rights and Combating Discrimination Office of the Police is immediately informed about incidents or offences related to discrimination; and collaborating with officials of other relevant government services or civil society organizations to report and record racist incidents and to support victims of such crimes, among other measures.

The Cyprus Police has prepared a handbook entitled "Human Rights Handbook", which includes a separate chapter on combating racism, xenophobia and intolerance. The purpose of the manual is to inform and raise awareness among members of the police about human rights. The manual is uploaded on the internal portal of the police and was designed, printed and disseminated in 2022.

In July 2022, a one-day training programme was organized at the Cyprus Police Academy titled "Professional Approach of Cases of Racism and Discrimination". The aim of the programme was to train participants on handling and investigating racist offences and hate crimes. In October 2022, the Cyprus Police organized a Conference titled "The role of members of the Police in a society with respect to diversity". The aim of the conference was to raise awareness and strengthen a culture of respect for equality and diversity among participants.

A Working Group on enhancing inter-agency co-operation to address hate crime was formed. The Working Group is facilitated by ODHR and is made up of representatives of the Cyprus Police, the Ministry of Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus (Attorney General's Office), the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare of Cyprus, the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights of Cyprus, the University of Cyprus, the CSO Hope For Children, the CSO Caritas Cyprus, and the CSO Cyprus Refugee Council. The Working Group was responsible for preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (an inter-agency protocol), signed by all members, on strengthening co-operation in the field of hate crime. The Memorandum was at the final stage of consultations when the 2022 Hate Crime Report was launched.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes the efforts of Cyprus to report hate crime information and statistics to ODIHR, including from the prosecution or judiciary. However, based on the available information, it observes that Cyprus’ hate crime recording and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Cyprus would benefit from raising awareness among and building the capacity of criminal justice officials to address hate crime.

ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States committed to periodically reporting reliable information and statistics on hate crimes to ODIHR. Participating States also committed to introducing or further developing professional training and capacity-building activities for law enforcement, prosecution and judicial officials dealing with hate crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Cyprus in meeting its relevant commitments through the provision of comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as by providing further resources and capacity-building assistance for its police, prosecutors, and the judiciary.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

Total Incidents
Targeted properties
Type of property attacks

No information is available.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date	Type of incident	Source	Description
2022-07	Threats	Symfiliosi	Show info
2022-07	Violent attacks against people	Symfiliosi UNHCR	Show info
2022-02	Violent attacks against people	Symfiliosi UNHCR	Show info
2022-07	Threats	Symfiliosi	Show info
2022-04	Violent attacks against people	Symfiliosi	Show info
2022-07	Violent attacks against people	UNHCR	Show info
2022-08	Threats	OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights	Show info
2022-07	Violent attacks against people	UNHCR	Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date	Type of incident	Source	Description
2022-01	Threats	Human Rights Platform	Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published relevant recommendations in its "Final report on Cyprus adopted on 6 December 2022 by ECRI at its 90th plenary meeting (6-9 December 2022)"