Cyprus

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.

Hate crime data collection in Cyprus
Support for hate crime victims in Cyprus
Hate crime capacity building in Cyprus

OFFICIAL DATA

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 2011 Data

    Figures are collected according to the following crime types: against the person, against property, and verbal assaults. Breakdown by crime types and bias motivation is not provided.

Hate crime recorded by police

National developments

A new law was enacted on 21 October 2011 expressly stating that racist motivation is an aggravating circumstance for any offence and is to be taken into account by the court at the time of sentencing.

A series of training courses on discrimination, racism and xenophobia were implemented at the Cyprus Police Academy at various levels (basic police training, courses for sergeants and inspectors). Law-enforcement authorities also translated and published leaflets and booklets on human rights, discrimination, racism and xenophobia, which were distributed to all police officers, as well as made available to the public.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that Cyprus train prosecutors and judges in relation to hate crime and other forms of discrimination; ensure all acts of racist violence are thoroughly investigated for appropriate prosecution and punishment; and improve its hate crime data-collection system, noting that the recorded number of racially motivated incidents is low compared with reports of such incidents in the community.