United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representation in Cyprus

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representation in Cyprus is an office of the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

High Commissioner for Refugees

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...

(UNHCR) opened in August 1974 upon the request of the Government of Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...

(GoC) and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. UNHCR Representation in Cyprus was designated as Coordinator of the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance for Cyprus.

Parallel to the above, UNHCR was also responsible upon the request of the Cyprus Government to examine applications for refugee status.

Simultaneously, UNHCR assisted the Government in developing their national legislation

Legislation

Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...

and procedure for the examination of asylum claims. The law came into life in 2000 and in January 2002 the Cyprus Government started receiving and processing asylum applications.

The UNHCR Representation in Cyprus offices are located in the United Nations Protected Area (UNPA), where the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus was established in 1964 to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions...

(UNFICYP) is based. Access to UNPA is restricted and tightly controlled by UNFIYP, through check points and other forms of surveillance

Surveillance

Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...

1974–1997

UNHCR has been assisting in Cyprus since 1974. At the request of the Government of Cyprus (GoC) and the United Nations Secretary General (UN-SG), UNHCR operated programs for internally displaced persons (IDP) till 1998. This assistance included provision of housing and small industries as well as promotion of projects and bi-communal activities, in order to remedy the shortages created due to population displacements and to encourage co-operation between Greek Cypriots

Greek Cypriots

Greek Cypriots are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community at 77% of the population. Greek Cypriots are mostly members of the Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity...

and Turkish Cypriots

Turkish Cypriots

Turkish Cypriots are the ethnic Turks and members of the Turkish-speaking ethnolinguistic community of the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The term is used to refer explicitly to the indigenous Turkish Cypriots, whose Ottoman Turkish forbears colonised the island in 1571...

towards a unified approach as regards issues of common concern. This function lasted till 1997.

Since its establishment in 1974 and until June 1998, the UNHCR Representation in Cyprus office received a small number of applications for refugee status per year. In 1998, however, boats with persons claiming fear for their lives or serious violations of their human rights

Human rights

Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...

in their countries of origin started arriving in Cyprus asking for asylum

Right of asylum

Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...

1998–2002

Since 1998, UNHCR Cyprus has worked on its regular mandate (international refugees), as the designated authority

Authority

The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...

charged with supervising the implementation of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The UN General Assembly (UN-GA) Resolution establishing UNHCR, as well as the 1951 Refugee Convention (that is binding on the Cyprus Republic), call for cooperation between the Governments and the UNHCR.

During that period, UNHCR Representation in Cyprus was heavily concentrated in supporting the efforts of the GoC to develop an asylum system and an asylum space in Cyprus. Since 1998 till 2002 UNHCR simultaneously undertook Refugee Status Determination (RSD) , resettled the recognized refugees in other countries, assisted in the drafting of the national refugee legislation, assisted in the configuration of the required institutions for its implementation

Implementation

Implementation is the realization of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy.-Computer Science:...

, and trained such institutions.

In 2002 the GoC started undertaking RSD on its own. The first Refugee Law enacted in Parliament

Parliament

A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...

in 2000 has been amended in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007 by transposing the EU directives aiming at harmonising the asylum space in the EU along common minimum standards. UNHCR has closely advised in the process of transposing each of these directives through direct guidance to the drafters (being the Asylum Service or the Attorney General

Attorney General

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...

office), as well as in the process of amending laws that should include sections on refugees..

2002 – today

UNHCR Cyprus undertakes RSD training each time new Eligibility Officers (EO) are recruited at the Asylum Service (thereafter AS) and Reviewing Authority (thereafter RA –an independent body). In addition, it trains cadets in the police academy

Police academy

A police academy is a training school for new police recruits, also known as a law enforcement academy.-Australia:Larger police departments usually run their own academies. States often run a centralised academy for training of personnel of law enforcement agencies within the state.Police...

twice a year as well as holding refreshment sessions for immigration

Immigration

Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...

police once a year. Advice on individual cases and on-the-job training are also part of the UNHCR training activities.

UNHCR contributed to the development of the European Refugee Fund (ERF -managed by the Ministry of Interior) annual and multi-annual strategy for Cyprus and participated in the selection committee for ERF project awards in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, it undertook the training of civil servants coming in contact with asylum seekers and refugees, and the training of teachers on asylum as a human right in the context of a project on European citizenship.

UNHCR has closely advised the AS and the RA in particular towards sound policy and practice towards applicants from Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

and Palestine

Palestine

Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....

in light of the particular current circumstances.

UNHCR assisted in the transposition

Transposition (law)

The incorporation of international law is the process by international agreements become part of the municipal law of a sovereign state. A country incorporates a treaty by passing domestic legislation that gives effect to the treaty in the national legal system....

of the EU directive on the minimum standards for the reception conditions (transposed in December 2005), the transposition of the EU qualifications directive (transposed in July 2006), and of the EU procedures directive. This process entailed the provision of a written commentary on the draft law, presenting views in the various sessions as called by the Parliament

Parliament

, providing written statements to the Parliament when these are necessary to complement the oral statements, conducting sessions with members of the committees as requested. Similar tasks have been performed in regards to other minor directives and amendments to national legislation related to asylum (such as the public allowance law and the legal aid law).

UNHCR also conducts surveys regarding the situation of persons of concern.

In 2004, the office conducted several meetings with refugees residing in Cyprus and issued a report “The Situation of Refugees in Cyprus from a Refugee Perspective”

It also undertook a participatory assessment

Evaluation

Evaluation is systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone using criteria against a set of standards.Evaluation often is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest in a wide range of human enterprises, including the arts, criminal justice,...

among refugees, persons granted subsidiary protection, and asylum seekers in November 2005. The participatory assessment was updated from June until September 2006 and focused specifically on female refugees and asylum seekers.

UNHCR Representation in Cyprus undertook the following surveys

Statistical survey

Survey methodology is the field that studies surveys, that is, the sample of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies....

: in the first quarter of 2006 on the use of lawyers by asylum seekers, from September until December on the quality of public allowance among those a/s and refugees who succeed in receiving it, from February through June 2007 on the enjoyment of public allowance and other entitlements by Iraqi refugees and persons granted subsidiary protection and in 2008 on the training needs of refugees and persons granted subsidiary protection.

World Refugee Day – 2010

To mark WRD, the Representation organized a cultural evening which was opened by the First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus and addressed by the President of the Palestinian community in Cyprus who shared her refugee experience.
Also, young refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Palestinians ex Iraq shared their experience through photos and music.
Cypriot students displayed a short theatrical performance which addressed asylum, migration and xenophobia.
The event encouraged the interaction of refugees with the local community and vice versa. Such events tend to enhance the process of integration and the feeling of belonging in the new community. For the local community this was an opportunity to see a different picture of refugees, one which is usually not portrayed by the majority of the media.

Coffee and snacks followed the event.

Gloria Jean’s Coffee provided refreshments and commemorated the World Refugee Day at their cafes on 20 June, wearing the t-shirts “Hope” produced by the UNHCR in 2006.

Within the framework of World Refugee Day 2010, UNHCR launched the “Marathon” Campaign, which consists of a 40 second TV spot, press ads and posters.

The 40 second TV spot, produced in 2008 in Bratislava for the UNHCR, is sending the message that refugees are not victims who need to be pitied, but achievers who deserve our respect for their stamina. The marathon of refugees extends beyond the typical finish line; it is up to the rest of us, the receiving societies, to embrace them and extend a helping hand, a positive attitude, without prejudice and discrimination.
You can view the TV spot here: http://unhcr-cyprus.blogspot.com/ (Greek version)

The spot which was translated into Greek with the pro bono assistance of the production agency in Bratislava, was played for two weeks in June in the state owned TV channel and two private ones. In addition, it was played on plasma screens in cafes, restaurants, hotels and gyms, following collaboration with the company that owns the plasma screens .

Five newspapers provided space for the press ads during the period between 14–20 June, while one newspaper continues to publish it.

Two posters were also produced and shared with the media, Ministries, NGO’s, other stake holders as well as supporters of this years’ WRD.

On this year’s World Refugee Day, a special session of the Youth Parliament on the theme “Children Refugees – Children Immigrants – The Cypriot Reality” took place at the House of Representatives. The young parliamentarians presented their findings on issues affecting the children of asylum seekers, recognized refugees and immigrants residing in Cyprus. The special session was the result of a collaboration between the UNHCR and the local NGO Pancyprian Council for Children’s Welfare. Preparations for the session commenced beginning of 2010. All proposals were also passed to the attendees of the special session.

The media coverage was extensive, but concentrated on the results of a rudimentary survey the young MPs made (which showed xenophobic trends) and did not at all mention the proposals made by the young MPs, which in general were calling for the introduction of integration measures.

UNHCR Bus Campaign in Collaboration with Nicosia Bus Company – 2009

Building public awareness and calling for the active engagement of everyone is an indispensable prerequisite for effective integration of refugees and an integral part of UNHCR’s work. "A bundle of belongings isn’t the only thing a refugee brings to his new country… Einstein was a refugee”. This is the reading of a UNHCR poster with Einstein’s portrait that used to travel with Nicosia buses, reminding us that refugees can contribute in all sorts of ways to the hosting society if they get a second chance to rebuild their lives in their new country. A reading that is calling everyone – State, individuals, private corporations - to approach refugees not as a burden to the society

Society

A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...

but as persons with their own skills, energy and talent able to complement and enrich anyone who responds to their call for inclusion; the corporation that offers them employment, the individual who offers them a warm smile and eventually the country that offers them asylum.

Open Air Photographic Exhibition “Refugees: Real People, Real Needs – 2009

In the framework of the 2009 Refugee Day, UNHCR Representation in Cyprus developed a travelling open air photo exhibition called ‘Refugees: Real People, Real Needs’ (http://flickr.com/photos/unhcr-cyprus/collections/) that was held in the pedestrianized streets of Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca between June 20 and September 3.
The images were chosen from a selection of striking refugee related photographs taken by World Press Photo (WPP) international winners with the aim of exposing the public to the events and environments that create refugees.

Not Just Numbers Educational Kit – launched September 2009

The UNHCR Representation in Cyprus launched the education tool kit on asylum and migration in Europe called ‘Not Just Numbers’ in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture in September 2009. ‘Not Just Numbers’ was designed by the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (OIM) to facilitate educators and engage youth and adolescents in an informed debate on issues of asylum, giving them the opportunity to see the human angle of asylum seekers and refugees and not only faceless statistics. More than 27 mandatory training sessions directed at high schools and gymnasium educators have been held by the Representation in all major cities of the island in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture. Simulations and role playing sessions are also organised in the schools with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education.

UNHCR Assisting Refugees in their Integration Mentoring Programs – 2009 onwards

In addition, the UNHCR Representation in Cyprus has developed a number of mentoring programmes and integration processes:
Coaching: In collaboration with several private companies, the Representation has initiated a voluntary coaching program that aims to familiarize refugees with Cypriot working culture through the improvement of their communication and presentation skills. A related story can be found on the blog: www.unhcr-Cyprus.blogspot.com
Language programs: In collaboration with the School of Modern Greek at the University of Cyprus, the Representation secures placements for recognized refugees to receive intensive language courses through generous fee waiving.
Information Centre: In an effort to facilitate the integration process of refugees, the Representation is also temporarily acting as an information centre, collecting and disseminating all possible information and announcements in relation to language, computer programs and other possibilities for vocational training in Nicosia and other areas.

Furthermore, the Representation has also circulated the following websites that provide Greek language learning opportunities partially or fully free of charge:

1. http://www.languageaddicts.com/greek_pronunciation.htm - This can be a good complement for those with some knowledge of Greek, or who are attending classes and want to improve their vocabulary.

2. http://www.kypros.org/LearnGreek - There are different levels of courses to choose from Elementary 101, Elementary 102, Intermediate, etc.

3. http://users.forthnet.gr/agn/drennolds1/ - Plenty of educational tools to choose from. Every lesson has its exercise – e.g. a crossword to help improve your understanding.

4. http://www.hitgreece.com/category/learn-greek - The site is especially useful for phrases, words, verbs and numbers.

Employment Opportunities: In an attempt to enhance awareness and understanding of the employment rights of refugees, the Representation has collaborated with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, both of which have published an article in their monthly publication with regards to refugee empoyment rights.

“GIMME SHELTER” CAMPAIGN - 2008

An inspirational video clip named ‘Gimme Shelter’ directed by Ben Affleck and filmed by John Toll, depicts the unseen suffering of Congolese families in the conflict-torn North-Kivu region of DRC. The video, that can be viewed online at www.unhcrshelter.org, aims to raise awareness and fundraising for this issue.
Further to UNHCR’s request, the film had been shown in Cyprus at K Cineplex movie theatres all over the country an estimated 500 times. It was also played on TV Monitors in all locations EyeLevel Networks serves in.

Protection: What Refugees Need photographic exhibition – 2008

In June 2008, on the occasion of the World Refugee Day, UNHCR Representation in Cyprus launched a photographic exhibition called “Protection: what refugees need”. The aim of the photos – each with a message to be read - is to transmit to the widest possible audience how refugees differ from other population movements including irregular migrants, what the obligations of the Governments are to that end, what UNHCR does in respect of protection and the different aspects of protection in Cyprus and protection worldwide. In some of these photos, people – known and unknown - make the “protecting hand” sign, symbolizing their commitment and support towards the world’s most vulnerable and at the same time making UNHCR’ s logo widely known and synonymous with “refugee protection”. Other photos show destruction that leads to forced displacement as well as internally displaced Cypriots.

AME “Against All Odds” – Greek Version "Taxidi Fygis" Prepared by UNHCR Represenation in Cyprus – 2007

In June 2007, UNHCR Cyprus launched the electronic educational game for youth, "taxidi fygis" in Greek , which was disseminated widely through brochures and workshops at schools.
"Taxidi fygis", www.taxidifygis.org.cy, is a reworked version of a Swedish-language game, “Motallaodds”, which was designed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Stockholm and launched in 2005. It is an interactive online game created to increase students’ awareness and knowledge about refugee situations by putting players in the position of a refugee.

CR Hope Campaign – 2006

In June 2006 UNHCR Cyprus launched the public awareness campaign “Hope" in order to highlight the causes that force people to seek refuge in other countries.This campaign began with the launching of the UNHCR t-shirt “HOPE”, which took place within the framework of the World Refugee Day (WRD) on 20 June 2006. The t-shirt, designed by the well known Cypriot fashion designer Ms Kika Ioannidou, portrays vulnerable human beings (either men or women) who had to flee their country because of fear for their life and are asking for help from those who understand their plea. Ms Kika Ioannidou states: "The red lines are the arms that are bringing the needed help. The yellow suns represent a brighter future with the hope that they will not have to run again from fear, hope that they will find safety, hope that they will manage to rebuild their lives”. The “Hope” T-shirt is available for sale, the proceeds of which will be used for UNHCR’ s operations. To buy a t-shirt please call 22 350057/ 22 359043.

Plans for the future

In the years to come, UNHCR Cyprus will continue its activities aimed at enhancing the protection space for asylum seekers and refugees. At the same time, it is equally important to continue sharing information, policies and know-how with governmental and non-governmental actors with a view to improve their capacity to respond to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

UNHCR Cyprus would like to see more lawyers providing high quality counselling to asylum applicants, either through free legal counselling (as an in-kind contribution) by registered lawyers or through further development of NGO capacity.

It will also pursue more projects to enhance the understanding of the refugee problem among the Cypriot society. Misinformation in the country of asylum will only exacerbate the suffering of refugees, who have already experienced enough pain after having lost their homes and loved ones as a result of who they are or what they believe.

Finally, UNHCR Representation in Cyprus has in addition a mandate to mobilize resources, both for the country field operations as well as for the UNHCR’s operations around the world.

Ensure adherence to international refugee law standards

UNHCR contributes technical and worldwide expertise to the Cypriot Government in the processing of individual examination of applications for asylum, with the aim to ensure that the decisions are in accordance with international human rights

Human rights

standards. For this same purpose, UNHCR partially funds NGOs to provide gender based assistance, as well as legal advice

Legal advice

In the common law, legal advice is the giving of a formal opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law by an officer of the court , ordinarily in exchange for financial or other tangible compensation...

to carefully selected asylum applicants for their appeals and access to the rights granted in the national law.

Government advice

UNHCR advices the Government

Government

Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...

by providing comments on related legislative drafts, such as on the transposition

Transposition (law)

of EU directives for the harmonization

Harmonisation of law

Harmonisation of law comes from the root word harmonise which under the OED means “make or form a pleasing or consistent whole”. In the case of harmonisation of law, the aim is to make a consistent whole of law...

of the European refugee system.

Training

UNHCR provides training to actors involved in the protection of refugees (police officers, officers who examine applications for refugee status, lawyers, civil servants responsible for the effective implementation

Implementation

Implementation is the realization of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy.-Computer Science:...

of the related rights, etc.) and advocates for the improvement of the quality of the asylum system.

UNHCR provides legal aid to well selected asylum applicants through a project undertaken by an NGO called Future Worlds Center

Future Worlds Center

Future Worlds Center is a non-profit, non-Governmental independent organization active in programs with future orientation in areas related to positive social change, social entrepreneurship and transformation.-Founding history:...

.

Legal aid became available for asylum seekers and refugees in 2009, subsequent to an amendment of the Legal Aid Law. In particular, the Law now allows for the provision of legal aid in recourses to the Supreme Court against a negative decision by the Asylum Service (before the decision is challenged by the Reviewing Authority), or
a negative decision by the Reviewing Authority.
Legal aid will only be provided for recourses at a first instance at the Supreme Court, not for subsequent revisory appeals and there must be a possibility of a positive decision on the appeal, i.e. to prove that the applicant has a good case.

An asylum seeker interested in order to activate an entitlement to legal aid, he/she must submit an application to the District Court. The District Court shall grant the legal aid where two conditions are met:
(a) a report by the Welfare Office states that the financial situation of the applicant (or the guardian of a dependent applicant) is such, that he/sheis not able to pay their own legal fees and (b) that the case is deemed to be of such a seriousness that it calls for legal aid in the best interests of justice.

Although provisions for legal aid have been introduced for asylum seekers, the access to legal aid is highly restricted due to the lengthy and legally complex procedure of submitting and assessing the application, which includes proving the applicant has a good case. This renders access to legal aid almost impossible without the assistance of a legal advisor.

Supervision

As in all countries, UNHCR Cyprus has a supervisor

Supervisor

A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...

y role under the 1951 Refugee Convention in ensuring that the rights of asylum seekers and refugees are duly respected. That means in practice, having access to the asylum procedures, to adequate housing, food, medical treatment and to integration as a long term solution to the refugee plight.

Awareness

UNHCR informs and sensitizes the public on the problem of refugees around the world, and in Cyprus, by disseminating

Dissemination

To disseminate , in terms of the field of communication, means to broadcast a message to the public without direct feedback from the audience. Dissemination takes on the theory of the traditional view of communication, which involves a sender and receiver...

information to the media, and reviewing media reports on asylum seekers and refugees to ensure accuracy of facts. Public awareness can only have a positive impact on the public understanding.

In order to sensitize the general public in Cyprus towards the refugee cause and to prevent xenophobic attitudes and promote tolerance

Toleration

Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...

, UNHCR organises public awareness activities (e.g. photo or other exhibitions, concerts, etc.) In reaching young people, UNHCR promotes school activities and disseminates educational material to educators in co-operation with governmental and non-governmental partners.

Refugee issues in Cyprus

Cyprus

has been a destination for a consistently increasing number of regular and irregular immigrants. According to national sources, the estimated number of irregular migrants in Cyprus is 50,000. Cyprus enacted national refugee

Refugee

A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...

legislation in January 2000 and its asylum institutions started conducting Refugee Status Determination (RSD) in 2002. In 2007, 6,789 persons submitted asylum applications and in 2008, 3,922 persons applied for asylum. The number of the asylum-seekers pending to be examined at the end of 2009 was 5,275. Cyprus and Malta rank first among the industrialized countries in the per capita number of asylum applications.

Eight Year Overview of 1st instance Applications to the Republic of Cyprus
Month	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Jan	106	163	241	926	400	419	254	303	207
Feb	14	152	270	494	285	703	440	369	212
Mar	53	34	598	629	497	529	423	219	192
Apr	50	51	581	776	285	813	310	208	178
May	38	45	336	885	385	489	312	268	211
Jun	28	54	1,195	329	234	347	274	240	233
Jul	51	17	1,184	141	471	521	435	245
Aug	63	111	675	792	285	500	220	175
Sep	110	385	982	843	204	362	326	270
Oct	112	393	543	606	394	696	232	315
Nov	110	1,191	770	552	381	566	334	366
Dec	216	1,815	2,484	772	724	839	362	247
Total	951	4,411	9,859	7,745	4,545	6,784	3,922	3,225	1,233

In principle, asylum-seekers are not denied access to Cyprus. Most asylum-seekers, however, do not try to enter the country through official channels, in order to avoid the risk of not being admitted. While the Asylum Service (the first instance body that examines asylum applications and the coordinating body on asylum seekers’ issues) has made considerable progress in setting up the structures and the processes to ensure quality decisions, the reality remains that the number of Eligibility Officers (EOs) against the number of applicants is still objectively insufficient. This is clearly substantiated by the fact that at the end of 2008, there were 8,005 cases pending to be decided.

Other problems related to refugees issues in Cyprus are the following:

Asylum lawyers are virtually non- existent and provision of free legal couselling by NGOs is insufficient
The high number of asylum applicants has caused difficulties for the welfare services to provide for the minimum reception conditions as set out in the Reception Condition Regulations of 2005.
Labour offices are to refer asylum seekers to jobs but the number of referrals is very low.
Integration programs such as language and vocational training appear to be insufficiently disseminated among asylum seekers and refugees. Moreover, the practical difficulties faced by refugees are not sufficiently taken into account when it comes to the organization of such programs.
There are no alternatives to administrative detention.
There is only one reception center in the country with a capacity limited to 80 people.

Regarding the situation in the north part of Cyprus which the Government of Cyprus does not have de facto control, there are no socio-economic data available. Persons of certain nationalities are detained and deported as soon as possible, most of the time without being given an opportunity to distinguish irregular migrants from persons suffering persecution

Persecution

Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...

. The overwhelming majority of those individuals who succeed in entering into the north without being detected, cross the "Green Line" and apply to the Government of Cyprus. Applicants in the north are examined by UNHCR.

External links

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