A bi-communal symposium brought together Greek and Turkish Cypriots to address human rights violations exacerbated by the ongoing Cyprus problem. The event took place on 21 March 2025, at the Home for Cooperation in Nicosia.
As part of the EMBRACE Project, funded by the European Union Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot Community, the event aimed to foster awareness and dialogue on critical human rights issues impacting both communities.
Andy Georgiou, the project coordinator, emphasised the necessity of addressing these violations not only at a political and economic level but also in the daily lives of individuals. He said that the project’s objective is to create a common understanding of the unsustainable nature of the current status quo, which leads to significant injustices.
The discussions featured a panel including Meltem Onurkan Samani, Founding Member and Director of the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre (CPDC), and Stephanie Lauhle-Shaelou, Founding Member and Director of ICLAIM. Both organisations play pivotal roles in the project’s execution, which has spanned two years and involved collecting and analysing public complaints regarding human rights violations.
“Our goal has always been clear; to facilitate genuine civic engagement and meaningful political dialogue,” said Onurkan Samani. She reaffirmed the importance of a lasting peace agreement between the communities.
Lauhle-Shaelou added that the work done within the project has established a strong reporting mechanism, which allows for a detailed examination of legal and non-legal factors surrounding human rights. She proposed that adherence to European values must be prioritised to ensure a stable democratic framework.
Michel Vedrenne, Head of the Cyprus Settlement Support Unit at the European Commission, commended the collaborative efforts of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in addressing significant human rights challenges. He highlighted the project as one of the bi-communal civil society grants awarded in 2023, representing a united front against the complexities of the Cyprus issue.
Huseyin Silman, Project Manager, noted the need for further EU involvement in promoting democratic practices in the region. He advocated for establishing a human rights watchdog to monitor ongoing violations, particularly at crossing points, where systemic injustices often go unnoticed.
The event concluded with a call for sustained commitment to bi-communal initiatives. The participants engaged in discussions on potential future activities emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy for human rights and the necessity of bridging the divides between the communities.
Observers noted that while gatherings of this nature contribute to a more profound understanding of human rights concerns, they also highlight the ongoing challenges in fostering dialogue and cooperation among the citizens of Cyprus.
Bilun Gunes
Voice Cyprus News-2025
