Cyprus Office of the Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman)

Date established 
January 18, 1991

Mode of establishment 
Primary legislation

Status
Independent Officer of the State, under “The Commissioner of Administration Laws of 1991 to 2004”

Mandate/objectives
Based on the powers granted to him/her by the abovementioned Laws, the Commissioner (Ombudsman) exercises control over decisions and actions taken by public administrative authorities. 

In April 2003, in compliance with article 13 of the Racial Directive (No 2000/43/EC), the Cyprus Government decided to designate the Ombudsman’s Office as the National Equality Body (NEB) to combat discrimination. For the purpose of implementing this decision, a new Law was put in effect on May 1st, 2004 (Law 42(I)/2004) which has extended the Ombudsman’s  mandate to combat all the forms of discrimination referred to in the European Council Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC, as well as other forms of discrimination forbidden by the Cyprus Constitution or other Cyprus’ Laws (eg. Law 205(I) 2002 forbidding gender discrimination in employment). With regard to issues/cases relating to discrimination, the Ombudsman’s mandate was extended to also cover the private sector.

Grounds of discrimination covered

Discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender.

Competences and responsibilities

- Investigating complaints against decisions and actions taken by public authorities and public officers. The Ombudsman intervenes if he/she concludes that a decision or action violates: a) the provisions of a Law, b) the human rights of the complainant or c) the principals of good administration and proper behaviour. In these cases, the Ombudsman produces a Report with recommendations on how to repare the problem,
- Investigating complaints claiming discrimination in both the public and the private sector and promoting equal treatment of all persons on the grounds of discrimination mentioned above,
- With regard to issues relating to discrimination, the Ombudsman was given powers to issues decrees and/or impose monetary fines on individuals/organisations who do not comply with his/her recommendations,
- Recently our office has been appointed as the National Preventive Mechanism for the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).

Main activities

- Investigating complaints about discrimination,
- Conducting Independent Surveys
- Providing assistance to victims of discrimination,
- Publishing reports and making recommendations on issues relating to discrimination,
- Ensuring compliance of individuals/organisations in both the private and the public sectors with anti-discrimination legislation

Publications

Annual Reports regarding the activities of the Ombdusman (A separate Report is published specifically for the activities of the NEB)
Reports issued after the investigation of a complaint

Promotion of equality

- The Promotion of Equality is foreseen in Law 42(I)/2004, which established the Cyprus National Equality Body.

- Only 6 Officers of the Ombudsman’s Office are invlolved with the NEB issues and there is no special department or one single person in charge of promotion of equality,

- There is no separate NEB budget and, thus, no separate budget for the promotion of equality. (Staff salaries and other - mainly office - expenses are covered by the Ombudsman’s budget).

- Despite the lack of budget for the promotion of equality, our NEB has organised various awareness raising activities which were financially supported by the European Commission, on the basis of 2 successful Financial Proposals that we submitted within the framework of the “Community Action Programme to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006)” . The activities organised covered all grounds of discrimination, and included: a) the organisation of seminars and conferences, b) the publication of information leaflets, c) conducting of public oppinion surveys on different grounds of discrimination d) a media campaign.

In 2010, we plan to do several activities that will again be financially supported by the European Commission, on the basis of a successful financial proposal we submitted last year under the community Porgramme “PROGRESS: Concretely, we plan to:
1) Organize a Media campaign: Produce a TV spot and 2 Radio spots that will raise awareness and also sensitize the general public on discrimination issues
2) Publish 2 Codes of Good Practices: The first for the media and the presentation of news/issues that concern people of different racial or ethnic origin. The second Code on combating discrimination against people with disabilities in the field of employment.
3) Financially support the production of a theatre play concerning discrimination.
4) Financially support an NGO working on gender issues to conduct a Survey aiming to identify the needs to vocational training of migrant women in Cyprus.
5) Organize a lecture regarding the (positive) role that literature can play in the integration of immigrants in Cyprus.
6) Organize a seminar regarding the rights that citizens of the Union who reside in Cyprus should enjoy,
7) Publish (new) Information leaflets on the competences of the NEB
8) Construct a website for theNEB.
9) Organize an one day event regarding the history, culture and minority rights of the 3 religious/ethnic minorities living in Cyprus, namely: the Armenians, the Maronites and the Latins. 
10) Co-Organize, with an NGO working on Gender issues, a Seminar regarding “Gender mainstreaming in Migration Policies and in Practice”
11) Organize a seminar to train union members on anti-discrimination legislation.
12) Cooperate with the a Labour Institute to: a) financially support the maintenance and upgrading of the Institute’s antidiscrimination website, (b) financially support the Institute in Conducting of a survey on discrimination against migrant workers in the field of employment,

Management
The Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) and 3 Senior Officers

Nomination of senior staff and board
The Commissioner (Ombudsman) is appointed by the president of the Republic on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers and with the prior consent of the majority of members of Parliament, the Ombudsman serves for a six year term and may be re-appointed

Number of staff
Total 45 (32 Officers, 13 Administrative Staff), (NEB: 6 Officers )

Budget
€ 2,025,242 for 2010 approved by Parliament

Accountability
Requirement to issue an annual Report regarding the activities of the Office. The Report is submitted firstly to the President of the Republic and then to Parliament 

Address 
ERA House
2 Diagorou Street
1097 Nicosia
Cyprus
 
Tel. (357)22405500 
E-Mail: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.cy  

Contact details
George Kakotas
Tel. (357)22405520 
E-Mail: gkakotas@ombudsman.gov.cy 

Further information
Website:

www.ombudsman.gov.cy

http://www.no-discrimination.gov.cy (Greek, English and Turkish)