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.
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 |
Hate crime recorded by police
KEY OBSERVATION
ODIHR observes that Cyprus has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech.
INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES
Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
Racist and xenophobic hate crime
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) urged Cyprus to promptly investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of racially-motivated attacks and prevent their occurrence in the future.