Five OHCHR Special Rapporteurs[1] of the UN in a joint Communication to the Cyprus government express their concerns about-
- The deteriorating environment for NGOs in Cyprus;
- KISA’s deregistration from the Register of Associations and Foundations; and for
- The continued persecution of KISA and its leadership.
With their communication, the 5 Special Rapporteurs call on the government to take “all necessary measures to halt the alleged violations and prevent their re-occurrence and in the event that the investigations support or suggest the allegations to be correct, to ensure the accountability of any person(s) responsible for the alleged violations”.
This new communication follows the letter of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe to the Minister of Interior, in which the Commissioner expressed her concerns to the Cypriot authorities about –
- Allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment of migrants;
- The reception conditions in the centres hosting asylum seekers; and
- The deteriorating environment for NGOs in general and KISA in particular.
On 05/06/2021, the government replied to the joint communication with a totally negative stance and content letter, which leaves no room for cooperation and understanding with the competent institutions of the UN. As shown in the comments submitted by KISA to the 5 Special Rapporteurs, the government’s allegations are totally unfounded and not based on true facts.
Steering Committee
[1] Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children
