Overview of Human Rights in Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus, the only internationally recognized part of the island of Cyprus, is a constitutional republic. While the government generally respects the civil and human rights of its citizens, a few problem areas remain.

The condition of the prison located in Nicosia concerns the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights. The 2005 death of an inmate gave rise to questions about the risk of suicide in the prison, while there have been questions about overcrowding. Police brutality is also a point of concern.

Discrimination against Roma (Gypsies) is an area that even the Ombudsperson of Cyprus reports to be a problem. Roma have inadequate access to jobs as well as medical and educational facilities.

Rights and freedoms pertaining to religion, press, speech, association and assembly are generally respected for the majority of Cypriots by the government.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

29th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.