© UNHCR/Antoine Tardy
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we, members of the academic community and the UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus, are pleased to announce our decision to establish an anti-racist observatory on the island.
During the Global Refugee Forum last December, the University of Cyprus made a commitment to collaborate with fellow academic institutions and the UNHCR towards the establishment of an anti-racist network. To ensure the operationalisation of the observatory, a steering committee has been established, comprising one member from each of the undersigned universities and UNHCR Cyprus.
Recognising the urgency of addressing hate crimes, the anti-racist observatory will actively monitor, document, and address, among others, racial prejudice and violence in Cyprus. Victims of hate crimes, including refugees and asylum-seekers, often hesitate to report incidents due to fear of perpetrators or mistrust of authorities. The Observatory seeks to break down such barriers and, through data collection and analysis, to shed light on incidents that frequently go unreported. In addition, the observatory will actively monitor traditional and online media, to identify trends relating to hate speech, xenophobia, intolerance, and prejudice.
The observatory will collaborate with the authorities as well as local human rights watchdog bodies, local non-governmental and civil society organisations to bridge gaps and address under-reporting. An annual report, detailing recorded incidents of hate/racially motivated crimes and xenophobic acts will be issued. Additionally, the observatory will provide policy recommendations to competent authorities for effective interventions and support for survivors.
We remain committed to fostering a Cyprus where prejudice and violence have no place. Together, we can build a more inclusive society.
Cyprus University of Technology
European University of Cyprus
University of Cyprus
University of Nicosia
UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus
Μοιράσου το στο Facebook Μοιράσου το στο Twitter
