The government and Ombudsman have left the country exposed regarding the protection of human rights

 

Statement by Haris Polycarpou, AKEL C.C. member

25 August 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The results of the evaluation of the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman) made by the competent Sub-Commission of the United Nations point to huge gaps and omissions of the Anastasiades-DISY Government with regards ensuring the protection of human rights in Cyprus. Similar findings were recently made by the European Union on the rule of law in Cyprus.

Six years after the first assessment and recommendations that Cyprus had received, the Government and the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights have not done even the minimum required, with the result that the country remains stuck in category B.

The Government is called upon to provide answers not only about the functioning of the institution, but more importantly in relation to its inability and in many cases its refusal to proceed to comply and implement the Commissioner’s decisions.

AKEL considers that the work of the Ombudsman requires a comprehensive reassessment. More specifically, the issue of its competences and financial independence, as well as the safeguarding of the effective representation of all social groups through the operation of the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights must be examined.

On the pretext of the Report prepared by the UN, AKEL will register the issue for debate in the relevant Parliamentary Committee.