Greek Sector:

The Republic of Cyprus is a multi-party democracy whose government is elected for 5 year term in free and fair elections. Women hold 9 seats in the 56 seat Parliament as well as some senior positions in the executive and judicial branches. There are no members of minorities in Parliament. The Maronite, Armenian and Latin (Roman Catholic) communities elect non-voting representatives from their communities to Parliament. In 2006 the government had still not complied with a 2004 European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling to prevent the violation of the rights of Turkish Cypriots living in the republic to free elections and to freedom from discrimination. The judiciary is independent.

Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, disability, language or social status is prohibited, but there is discrimination against Turkish Cypriots and Roma. Turkish Cypriots have filed cases to reclaim their property in government-controlled areas. Police and prison officials are accused of subjecting Turkish Cypriots to discriminatory treatment. 14% of prison inmates are foreigners imprisoned for being in the country illegally. All divisional police headquarters have appointed advisors to help deal with people of different cultural backgrounds, and an anti-racism training seminar is given at the Police Academy.

Efforts continue to account for 1,493 Greek Cypriots missing since the violence in 1963 64 and in 1974. A UN, Greek and Turkish Cypriot Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus continues to function. Genetic testing to help with identification issues will now be done. The auditor general's annual report outlined serious mismanagement within government and has resulted in an investigation.

Access to government information is guaranteed, but civil servants cannot provide documents without permission from the minister. Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed. Restrictions are imposed on Turkish not Turkish Cypriot journalists covering news.

Greek Cypriots can travel freely to the Turkish Cypriot north, and the number of Turkish Cypriots crossing the green line has increased; many now have Republic of Cyprus passports.

Cyprus is a destination and transit country for persons trafficked for sexual exploitation. Homosexuals face social discrimination, as do persons who are HIV-positive. HIV/AIDS education is lacking.
Education Rights: Education is compulsory to age 15 and free to age 18. The majority of children complete secondary education, and virtually all children attend school. Approximately 60% complete some postsecondary education. Children in public schools are required to have instruction in the Greek Orthodox religion, though parents may request their children be exempt. Textbooks in primary and secondary schools contain language considered derogatory to Turkish Cypriots and Turks; history textbooks are of particular concern.

Turkish Sector:

Since 1974 the northern third of the island of Cyprus has been governed by a Turkish Cypriot administration that proclaimed itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Only Turkey recognises this administration. The head of the TRNC is elected on the basis of universal suffrage in elections deemed free and fair. Greek Cypriots and Maronite residents could not participate in Turkish Cypriot elections; they vote in Greek Cypriot elections. 3 women are in the 50 seat administration; no minorities are represented.

The law provides for an independent judiciary and prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language or social status; in practice discrimination continues against Greek Cypriots and Maronites.

The tripartite Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, made up of United Nations, Greek and Turkish Cypriot representatives, is still trying to account for persons declared missing after the violence of 1963 64 and 1974. The TRNC has ceded responsibility for public security to Turkey. Reports of police abuse are cited.

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed in law but not respected in practice. Criminal charges have been filed against journalists for insulting the army. Greek and Turkish Cypriots need identification cards to cross the green line between the Turkish north and the Greek south, and Greek Cypriots are required to fill out a visa form.

Corruption, nepotism and a lack of transparency are reported as serious problems. There is no legislated access to government information, and civil servants can only release information with permission from their directors.

Homosexuality is considered a crime, and social discrimination is evident. There are no reports of discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS.

Greek Sector:

Education is compulsory to age 15 and free to age 18. The majority of children complete secondary education, and virtually all children attend school. Approximately 60% complete some postsecondary education. Children in public schools are required to have instruction in the Greek Orthodox religion, though parents may request their children be exempt. Textbooks in primary and secondary schools contain language considered derogatory to Turkish Cypriots and Turks; history textbooks are of particular concern.

Turkish Sector:

Free and compulsory education is provided for ages 6 to 15. Reports indicate that 90% of children attend school to the secondary level, while about 70% complete some postsecondary education. The government of Cyprus finds the language used in Turkish Cypriot textbooks to be derogatory to Greek Cypriots. A revised history syllabus and textbooks have been introduced. Students in Greek Cypriot enclaved schools began classes without textbooks when authorities determined the books contained offensive language. Statistical information on education in the TRNC, which is not recognised by the United Nations, is not provided by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Greek Sector:

A 3-year ECE programme begins at age 3. 78% of ECE is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 72%. There are 9,948 ECE teachers (99% female), of whom 10% are trained. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 16 : 1.

Greek Sector:

Education is compulsory for ages 6 to 14. Primary school begins at age 6 and lasts for 6 years. The NER is 96% (49% female). Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 99% reach the final grade of primary school. There are 3,319 primary teachers (83% female). The PTR is 19:1.

Greek Sector:

Secondary school begins at age 12 and lasts for 6 years. 14% of upper secondary students are enrolled in technical education. The NER is 93%. Only 2% of students repeat grade levels. There are 2,618 teachers (67% female) in lower secondary schools and 2,706 (52% female) in upper secondary school. The PTR in lower secondary is 13 : 1 and in upper secondary 12 : 1.

Greek Sector:

18,272 students are enrolled in tertiary institutions. The NER is 32%. The 5,282 foreign students studying in Cyprus come mainly from Asia (4,136), Central and Eastern Europe (454), North America and Western Europe (413), the Arab States (145) and Sub-Saharan Africa (66). At the same time, 17,361 Cypriot students study abroad, mainly in Greece (10,048), the UK (4,208), the USA (1,562), Bulgaria (443) and Hungary (297).

Greek Sector:

Discrimination against persons with disabilities is prohibited in education or in other state services, and the law is enforced. The ombudsman's authority includes monitoring discrimination based on disabilities in both the private and public sectors. Educational services are provided to the disabled.

Turkish Sector:

Discrimination against persons with disabilities is prohibited in education and in other state services, and the prohibition is enforced. The administration employs some 280 people with disabilities and provides financial assistance to between 2,500 and 3,500 people with disabilities.

Greek Sector:

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government cooperates with the UNHCR. Despite pending asylum claims, foreigners are kept in detention centres or arrested for illegal entry. Complaints of physical and psychological abuse are investigated by the ombudsman.

The Education Ministry requires proof of legal residence for student registration and is required to report parents with illegal status. The ombudsman has expressed disagreement with this policy. Greek Cypriots consider those displaced as a result of the division of the island to be refugees rather than IDPs.

Turkish Sector:

The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, and no system is in place for the protection of refugees. Cooperation with the UNHCR is sporadic. Turkish Cypriots consider people who were displaced as a result of the division of the island to be refugees, though legally they would be termed IDPs. 90,000 persons are estimated to be IDPs.

Greek Sector:

A 1975 agreement is the legal source regarding the treatment of Turkish Cypriots living in the South. It provides for facilities for education, medical care and freedom of religion. Turkish Cypriot leaders have complained that there is no school in Limassol for Turkish Cypriot students. Some Turkish Cypriots born after 1974 report difficulty obtaining identification cards in the Republic. Roma families in Limassol face housing problems, and many Roma children do not attend school. The ombudsman opened an investigation when Roma children were suspended from school until they were tested for hepatitis.

Turkish Sector:

The 403 Greek Cypriots and 140 Maronites living in enclaves in the TRNC complain of imposed conditions: they are subjected to police surveillance; they believe their phones are tapped; they are forbidden to visit religious sites located in military zones; they require permission to conduct church services other than in 7 designated churches; their school textbooks are screened; the ability of their children to visit relatives is limited. Plans to expand education in enclaves to include Grades 7 through 9 are proposed, but at the time of writing authorities had not given approval for the teachers required. Greek Cypriots and Maronites were unable to leave any of their properties to heirs residing in the South, but 2 of 4 Maronite villages have now gained permission to do so.

Greek Sector:

Reports do not indicate restrictions of academic freedom.

Turkish Sector:

Reports do not indicate restrictions of academic freedom or of Internet access, but the climate encourages self-censorship. University employees are considered quasipublic sector workers.

Greek Sector:

Women and men have the same legal status in the judicial system. Equal pay for performing the same work is the law, and it is enforced at the white collar level. Wages for women in other sectors are 25% to 30% lower than for men. Sexual harassment is prohibited and the law enforced.

Violence against women is common, but mechanisms to report and prosecute family violence are available. Teachers and other education workers are required to report all suspected cases of domestic violence. Courts can garnishee wages and assets or give sentences of imprisonment to enforce child support payments. Women are trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Turkish Sector:

Women have the same legal status as men in the judicial system. Equal pay for men and women performing the same work is enforced in some occupations. Violence against women is a problem, but authorities only consider a case credible if there is a witness. No specific provision deals with sexual harassment, and incidents go unreported. Artiste visas are issued to women from Eastern Europe allowing them to work in nightclubs. Reports claim that some of these women are coerced into prostitution. Authorities acknowledged the existence of trafficking.

Greek Sector:

The minimum age for employment is 16, and labour inspectors enforce child labour laws.

Turkish Sector:

Legislation to protect children from exploitation in the workplace is enforced. The minimum age for employment is 16, though apprenticeships may begin at age 15.

Greek Sector:

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, except members of the police and the military. Police associations have the right to bargain collectively but cannot take strike action. Over 70% of workers are unionised, and approximately 60% are covered by collective agreements, though these are not legally enforceable. All workers have the right to strike, but essential services must be maintained. An agreement is in place for the resolution of disputes in essential services.

Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited. Reports of foreign maids and illegal foreign workers having their wages withheld are noted. The minimum wage for certain categories of workers is approximately US$724 (362 CYP) per month and rises to US$770 (385 CYP) after 6 months' employment. This does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Wages negotiated in collective agreements are considerably higher than the minimum wage. Only citizens can claim pensions. The legal maximum work week is 48 hours. In the public sector the work week is 38 hours in winter and 35 hours in summer.

Turkish Sector:

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, except for police and military personnel. Only 1% of private sector workers are unionised, though almost all public-sector workers are union members. Teachers are union members. Collective bargaining is permitted, but collective agreements are not legally enforceable. Public and semi-public employees make up approximately 30% to 35% of the work force and benefit from collective bargaining agreements. Employers have the right to hire replacement workers during a strike. The armed forces, law officers, judges and members of the police and civil defence forces do not have the right to strike. Strikes in essential services can be ended.

Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited, but reports indicate that such practices occur. The minimum wage of US$447 (Turkish new lira 594) a month does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The maximum work week is 38 hours in the winter and 36 hours in the summer.

Greek Sector:

Two-thirds of the island of Cyprus is under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, while the northern one-third is ruled by a Turkish Cypriot administration. A buffer zone between north and south, "the green line," is patrolled by UN Peacekeepers. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union.