This year the UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus held its second annual integration conference online due to the public health measures currently in place.
On 9 and 10 December 2020, the UNHCR Country Office in Cyprus held its second Annual Integration Conference in Nicosia on the topic of The Integration Process in Cyprus and the Impact of Misconceptions about Refugees. Following the success of UNHCR’s first Integration Conference in Cyprus held last year when 100 people attended, this year’s conference took place online due to the global health pandemic and was attended by some 150 participants. These included members of the refugee community in Cyprus, representatives of various government departments, local authorities, civil society actors, media professionals, academics, lawyers and humanitarian workers from different international agencies. The event was additionally live-streamed on the UNHCR Cyprus Facebook page to ensure even wider outreach and participation.
“Integration starts from the moment refugees arrive in a safe country. Addressing the challenges that refugees face upon arrival is crucial,” said Katja Saha, the UNHCR Representative in Cyprus in her opening remarks. In this year’s event UNHCR brought together a wide range of speakers in six thematic sessions to explore the topic of Integration from multiple different perspectives. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from government officials and local authorities and the police on matters concerning the legal framework, education, social welfare and access to labour and labour rights, as well as the State’s National Integration Plan.
Civil society actors who are working directly with asylum-seekers and refugees on a daily basis shared their experiences and recommendations. Individuals from the refugee community across Cyprus gave their personal accounts on challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them, reinforcing a key element of integration and that is of refugee self-representation. Furthermore conference participants had the opportunity to hear from legal professionals as well as independent academic and activist voices alongside individuals representing projects and programmes that promote diversity and labour integration. The conference ended with a session on the crucial role and responsibility of the media in shaping public opinions.
In his concluding remarks at the end of the conference, George Ailiotis, UNHCR Cyprus’ Protection Associate and Integration Focal Point said: “The Cypriot society and the state can help bring back the confidence, self-reliance and participation of refugees in life by acknowledging the value of, and implementing comprehensive integration policies motivated by, a genuine desire for inclusion. We must not only work for well-designed actions and comprehensive policies; we must work for the nurturing and development of a collective understanding that inclusion works for the benefit of all of us. A culture of inclusion must be cultivated.”
UNHCR Cyprus encourages cooperation across all sectors of society for the enhancement of integration processes for refugees seeking international protection, and welcomes feedback and collaboration from organisations, departments and groups to this end. We would like to thank all our speakers and participants for all their valuable contributions on a topic that affects not only refugees and asylum-seekers, but all individuals and society as a whole.
To watch any of the sessions again, please visit our YouTube channel
For the agenda and presentations from the various speakers, please see below:
DAY 1
I. The legal framework in Cyprus against racism and racial discrimination
Ms. Olga Komiti, Protection officer, UNHCR: Introduction: The legal framework in Cyprus
Mr. George Kakotas, Office of the Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman): Racial Discrimination in Cyprus – A review of the current situation from the perspective of the Cyprus Equality Body
Ms. Nicoletta Charalambidou, Advocate: Existing gaps in Law and policy
Dr. Nikos Trimikliniotis, Professor of Sociology, Social Sciences and Law: The role of the anti-refugee sentiment in undermining legal frameworks and refugee integration policies
Ms. Costandia Lilly, Police Sergeant: Reporting, investigating and prosecuting hate crime – Procedures and challenges
II. Access to rights and services during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ms. Zenaida Onoufriou, Community-Based Protection Associate, UNHCR: Introduction to the topic
Mr. Eftychios Hadjichristodoulou, Social Welfare Services: The access of Asylum Seekers to State Support
Ms. Gosia Chrysanthou – CARITAS: Access to rights and services – The exacerbation of inequalities
Ms. Balqees Mohiyadin Abullahi: Personal experiences – Input from the community
III. The National Integration Plan
Mr. George Ailiotis, Protection Associate, UNHCR: The role of integration policies in combating discrimination and xenophobia
Mr. Michalis Beys, Ministry of Interior: The Plan’s outline and special provisions for addressing discrimination and xenophobia
Ms. Nadia Karayianni, Project Manager, First Step, Events Manager, IMH: The necessity of work orientation and vocational training. Lessons learned from the implementation of the project and good practices
Mr. Doros Polykarpou, Executive Director, KISA: Enduring obstacles in the integration prospects of migrants in Cyprus and remarks on the first edition of the National Integration Plan
DAY 2
IV. The employment of asylum seekers and refugees
Ms. Corina Drousiotou, Senior Legal Advisor, Cyprus Refugee Council: The role of civil society and the need for policy change based on the experiences of NGO service providers
Mr. Socrates Christodoulides, Department of Labour: Current policies and main issues faced with the registration and job placement of asylum-seekers and refugees
Mr. Mobin Hosseini: Personal experiences – Input from the community
Dr. Sotiris Themistokleous, Center for Social Innovation (CSICY): Promoting diversity and inclusion in employment – The EU Diversity Charter in the context of Cyprus
V. Promoting inclusion and preventing xenophobia through education
Dr. Chrystalla Katsapaou, Assistant Protection Officer, UNHCR: Introduction to the topic
Ms. Rehab Al Habrat: A parent’s perspective – Input from the community
Dr. Eirini Rodosthenous, Ministry of Education and Culture: Current policies and room for improvement – Future steps
Ms. Elizabeth Kassinis, Executive Manager, CARITAS: Access to learning – Practical and other obstacles
VI. The representation of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Cyprus media
Ms. Emilia Strovolidou, Assistant External Relations Officer, UNHCR: Introduction to the topic
Ms. Marcella, Author, Refugee: Refugees and Migrants – The gap between facts and media representation
Mr. Kyriakos Pierides, Journalist: The media’s role in shaping perceptions and policies concerning refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
Dr. Antigoni Themistokleous, Officer, Cyprus Radio Television Authority:The Radio Television Regulation and its safeguards against xenophobic and anti-migrant coverage
Ms. Elli Kotzamani, President, Cyprus Media Complaints Commission: The Code of Media Ethics and its safeguards against xenophobic and anti-migrant coverage
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