Country report non-discrimination : transposition and implementation at national level of Council Directives 2000/43 and 2000/78 : Cyprus [2025]

Cyprus was granted independence in 1960 with a constitution that set out a power-sharing system, strictly communally divided between the 'Greeks' and the 'Turks'. The Constitution recognises two 'communities', the Greeks and the Turks, and three 'religious groups', the Maronites, the Armenians and the Latins. The religious groups were obliged to opt to belong to one of the 'communities', and opted to belong to the Greek community. The Roma community of Cyprus was not invited to choose which community to belong to, but was deemed to belong to the Turkish community, because of its assumed common language (Turkish) and religion (Muslim) with the Turkish Cypriots. Τhe Roma population is estimated to range from 650 to 1 250 people, amounting to a maximum of 0.11 % of the population.1 Because the Government does not recognise the Roma as a distinct community, official statistics do not provide figures for the Roma community but for the broader category of 'Turkish speakers'. The Government does not adopt or apply policies targeting the Roma, who are expected to benefit from horizontal policies intended for the entire population. The Roma are allocated housing in specifically designated areas, which are renowned for their poverty. Their housing segregation inevitably leads to schooling segregation, as all children must attend schools close to their place of residence. The Constitution functioned until 1963, when the Greek Cypriot President proposed 13 amendments to it, effectively taking away the most basic rights of the Turkish Cypriots. In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that the functioning of the Government must continue on the basis of the 'doctrine of necessity', which was subsequently extended to other areas affecting Turkish Cypriots, including their rights to welfare and to access their properties. Few NGOs are active in the non-discrimination field. No NGOs advocate for the rights of Turkish Cypriots and a handful advocate for the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.