trafficking

Human Rights Sculpture Park to open in Kolossi

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Human Rights Sculpture Park to open in Kolossi

The Human Rights Sculpture Park, located in the courtyard of the Apostolos Loukas High School in Kolossi, is set to open early next month. The park features sculptures promoting a human rights-based approach, conceived by visual artist and art teacher Popi Nikolaou and her students. The project, titled “Children Want Peace,” is nearing completion, with the opening ceremony scheduled for April 12, hosted by President Nikos Christodoulides. Nikolaou, recognized among the world’s best teachers, aims for the park to encourage students and future citizens to actively address human rights violations, including human trafficking, child sexual abuse, and women’s rights. The creation of the sculptures involved thorough research and study to effectively convey messages on human rights.

EU seeks migration agreement with Lebanon

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EU seeks migration agreement with Lebanon

The European Union is aiming to reach a migration agreement with Lebanon, as stated by Margaritis Schinas, the Vice-President of the European Commission. This follows successful agreements with Egypt and Tunisia. Schinas emphasized the need for preparation and stabilization of the agreement’s parameters but expressed optimism about its feasibility. He also mentioned the ongoing process for re-evaluating certain areas in Syria as safe, a competence of the European Asylum Agency, and highlighted Cyprus’s significant success in increasing returns of migrants. The Cypriot Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, discussed the geopolitical risks in the region, the role of the European Asylum Agency in assessing safety in Syria, and the efforts to combat human trafficking networks, including the establishment of a special police unit in Cyprus. The meeting in Nicosia also included other Cypriot ministers and deputy ministers.

Cyprus , ‘under suffocating pressure’ from migrant arrivals

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Cyprus , ‘under suffocating pressure’ from migrant arrivals

Cyprus has been described by European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas as “emerging as a European champion of returns” of migrants. Schinas highlighted the complexity and difficulty of managing migration in Cyprus but affirmed the EU’s unwavering support for the country in this regard. Despite the positive outlook from Schinas, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou expressed concerns over the “suffocating pressure” from the influx of Syrian migrants arriving by sea, although he noted that the flow of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa has been largely limited. Ioannou has proposed a plan to the European Union to declare parts of Syria safe for the return of migrants, a plan that has received support from the Austrian government and, despite a misunderstanding, was initially thought to have the backing of the Swedish government. Ioannou also mentioned the challenges posed by organized trafficking rings and the steps taken to combat them, including the establishment of a special police unit. Additionally, he referred to an agreement signed between the EU and Egypt aimed at addressing the root causes of irregular migration and enhancing legal immigration pathways. Schinas mentioned the EU’s efforts to pressure airlines involved in irregular migration and the provision of over €250 million in funding for Cyprus’ immigration infrastructure.