The Council of Europe has praised Cyprus for its ongoing work to protect minority rights but urged the government to step up efforts to address gaps in inclusion, education, and anti-discrimination measures, according to its latest assessment.
In its sixth opinion on Cyprus under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Council’s advisory committee commended the country’s strong legal framework that safeguards the rights of the Armenian, Latin, and Maronite communities—recognized as religious groups under national law. It also welcomed the decision to extend these protections to the Cyprus Roma community on an article-by-article basis.
The report highlights progress in promoting intercultural dialogue, minority-language education, and cultural initiatives. Among them are Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic language classes, local cultural centers such as the House of the Latins, and cooperative projects with schools and organizations in Armenia, Greece, and Lebanon. It further noted the country’s National Roma Strategic Framework 2021–2030 as a key tool for promoting equality and participation.
However, challenges remain. The committee noted that Cyprus Roma are still not legally recognized as a distinct minority group. It also pointed out that Turkish-speaking Cypriots continue to face barriers in using their language, despite Turkish being an official language of the Republic. The committee called for stronger institutional support, including empowering the national Coordinator of Religious Groups with a clearer mandate and resources to cover Roma-related issues.
Further recommendations include boosting minority-language education by training more teachers, establishing university programs for Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic, and expanding language instruction at the secondary level. The committee also urged Cyprus to respect the right to self-identification, improve data collection—especially on the Roma population—and intensify training for police, prosecutors, and judges to better address hate speech and xenophobia.
The opinion, adopted in July 2025, was published along with comments from Cypriot authorities. It calls on the country to continue advancing equality through stronger legal safeguards, better inclusion strategies, and sustained collaboration with minority communities.
