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It is with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to address today's Training Workshop, organised by the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights on the theme: "From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: implementation and challenges."
I warmly congratulate the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights for taking the initiative to organise today's training seminar, but also more broadly for its targeted actions and interventions on issues of promoting equality, respecting human rights and combating all forms of discrimination. The continuous and systematic training of public officials on these critical issues is absolutely necessary and useful, since it can contribute to the cultivation of a culture of respect for human rights, to changing attitudes and thus to optimising relations between the state and its citizens.
The recognition that every human being, without any discrimination, has rights that are non-negotiable and inalienable, constitutes one of the highest achievements of human society and modern civilisation. Human rights are universal and indivisible and from them derive the democratic values of any modern democratic and favourable society. Let us not forget that our struggle for freedom from Turkish occupation is also based on respect for internationally guaranteed human rights.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 is the timeless commitment to universal respect and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Since then, despite the undeniable progress achieved through resolutions and decisions of international and European organizations and through national legislation, the challenges that humanity continues to face demonstrate that we are still far from achieving the goal of full respect for human rights on a universal basis.
In Cyprus, human rights and freedoms are protected primarily by the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the state.
In Cyprus, human rights and freedoms are protected first and foremost by the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the state. The European Convention on Human Rights, which establishes absolute rights that can never be violated by states and explicitly prohibits discrimination in the enjoyment of these rights, has set the standard for their content and safeguards.
At the same time, Cyprus, as an equal member state of the European Union, applies the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which recognises their protection as a central component of the European edifice. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was adopted by the Nice European Council in 2000 and is today the central, legally binding text concerning the protection of the individual rights and civil liberties of citizens of the European Union.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Order, as the Ministry responsible for human rights issues and in order to comply with the multiple and multidimensional obligations arising from the Constitution, European Union law and international law, has proceeded to implement the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. These are documents and policy commitments that aspire to address the complex problem of gender-based violence in a holistic and integrated manner, based on victim-centred approaches that place women at the centre of their reform actions.
Particularly for women, targeted actions are promoted with the aim of deconstructing outdated stereotypes and perceptions that are the root cause of inequalities and discrimination against them. At the same time, actions are promoted to address the challenges and difficulties faced on a daily basis by women who face discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and by women who experience any form of violation of their basic human rights. In this context, the Ministry of Justice will proceed with the preparation of a National Strategy for the protection and safeguarding of members of the LGBTI community.
The preparation of the first National Strategy for the Prevention and Combating of Antisemitism is also underway, recognizing the particular importance of addressing phenomena of xenophobia, radicalization and hate speech. The National Strategy, which builds on an existing strong legislative framework to combat racism, promotes the principles of the rule of law and democratic values and the building of relations of acceptance and respect.
Recently, at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice, the Police Regulation on the Management of Issues and Offences to Combat Racism has been amended to now include the Indicators of Prejudice applicable to incidents of racism of any nature. The revised Police Order fully adopts and applies a victim-centred approach, through which the victim is treated with respect and sensitivity on the basis of an individualised and non-discriminatory process. Improvement changes were also promoted in the Protocols for the Management of Victims of Sexual Violence and Rape implemented by the Police in order to be fully in line with modern European and international human rights conventions.
In order to ensure the rights of children based on the standards set by international and European organizations, the implementation of the provisions of the legislation for the establishment of a new modern child-friendly justice system is also underway. Under the legislation, every child in conflict with the law receives specialized, individualized approach and support from a multidisciplinary team, with the aim of his or her smooth social reintegration and avoiding the recurrence of delinquent behavior.
Dear friends,
Universal respect for and the safeguarding and promotion of human rights in an open and inclusive society are a contractual obligation of States under the law, as well as a supreme democratic obligation.
Universal respect and the preservation and promotion of human rights in conditions of an open and inclusive society are a contractual obligation of States under the law, as well as a supreme democratic obligation. Beyond the legal obligation imposed, however, substantive equality and the implementation of human rights can become a reality when respect for every human being without any discrimination becomes an everyday way of life for each and every one of us. Only then will we feel secure that the foundations have been laid for a more just, peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. Thank you.
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