Engaging migrant communities in the promotion of the rights of the child

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Home 9 Child protection systems in national contexts. The cases of Italy, France, Cyprus and Greece 9 4.3 Legal framework and mechanisms on child protection in Cyprus

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Learning
Outcomes

By the end of this module you will be able to:

  • Recall the legal framework on child protection in Cyprus
  • Evaluate the legal regulations on child protection in Cyprus
  • Recognise the national competent authorities on child protection

Legal framework on child protection in Cyprus

  • Law 50/1979, which ratified the Convention on the Legal Status of Extramarital Children
  • Law 36/1986, which ratified the European Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgements relating to the Guardianship of Minors and the Restoration of Guardianship of Minors
  • Law 243/1990, which ratified the UNCRC
  • Law 11(III)/1994, which ratified the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
  • Law 26(III)/1994, which ratified the Convention on the Protection of Children and on Cooperation in Relation to Intercountry Adoption
  • Law 31(III)/2000, which ratified the Convention for the Prohibition of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and the Middle Action aiming at their Elimination
  • Law 119(I)/2000 on the prevention of violence in the family and the protection of victims
  • Law 3(I)/2000 on combating trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation of children
  • Law 6(I)/2000 on refugees and unaccompanied minors
  • Law 24(III)/2004, which ratified the Convention on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement and cooperation in relation to parental responsibility and measures for the protection of children
  • Law 6(III)/2006, which ratified the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
  • Law 74(I)/2007 & Law 44(I)/2014 about the Commissioner for the protection of children’s rights laws
  • Law 21(III)/2014, which ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Child from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
  • Law 91(I)/2014 on the prevention and combating of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography
  • Law 13(III)/2017, which ratified the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Complaints Procedure
  • Law 14(III)/2017, which ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
  • Law 55(I)/2021 on the establishment of penal justice system friendly to the children who are in conflict with the law

National competent authorities on child protection

Type (Public/ CSO)

Name

Main services

Website
Public authority Cyprus Police

24h hotline (112) for emergencies or 1460. Reports and complaints. The main public authority in managing child abuse cases.

 https://www.police.gov.cy
Public authority Cypriot Commissioner for Children’s Rights

The main authority in cases of violation of children’s rights. It functions as a protection and defence mechanism. It collaborates with public services or other authorities to meet the children’s needs.

 http://www.childcom.org.cy

Public authority

 Asylum Service

The Asylum Service was established in 2004 according to an amendment of the Refugee Law of 2000, replacing the Refugee Authority. The main responsibilities of the Asylum Service, are, apart from the examination of applications for international protection at first instance, the coordination and supervision of the operation of reception centers, the implementation of the Dublin Regulation, establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the member state responsible for the examination of an application for international protection.

 http://www.moi.gov.cy

Ministry

 Ministry of Education and Culture

Implementation of programs and collaboration with NGOs and Civil Society for the access of refugee and immigrant children to education.

Operation of Reception Structures for the Education of Refugee Children.

Operation of Intercultural schools.

 http://www.moec.gov.cy/en/

Public authority

 Civil Registry and Migration Department

Responsible for the safe access of refugee and migrant children to services to cover their primary needs in the Reception and Identification Centers, and in other accommodation facilities.

 http://www.moi.gov.cy
Ministry Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance

Allowances (child, birth), Programs for access to nurseries and day-care centers, Adoption and foster care, Preschool Education and Training.

http://www.mlsi.gov.cy

www.aboutcyprus.org.cy
NGOs Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (ΣΠΑΒΟ)

Defending the rights and providing direct help to people who experience or exercise domestic violence.

National SOS Hotline 1440/ European Hotline 116111/ European Hotline for Missing Children 116000

 https://domviolence.org.cy/en/