The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a letter sent on 23 October to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides.
The Commissioner highlighted the situation of some 35 individuals who have been stranded in the buffer zone for several months. “Prolonged stays in poor conditions expose them to significant risks of violation of the human rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), including the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment and the right to private and family life”, he said.
The Commissioner also expressed concern over reports of boats carrying migrants, including persons who may need international protection, being prevented from disembarking in Cyprus and returned, sometimes violently, without access to asylum procedures. “These actions could lead to violations of the ECHR and the UN Refugee Convention, which prohibit the return of individuals to countries where they may face human rights abuses,” the Commissioner added.
While recognising the challenges posed by migratory movements in the Mediterranean, the Commissioner asked the Cypriot authorities to take steps to ensure that laws and practices applied in the buffer zone and at sea comply with Council of Europe human rights standards.