EU survey highlights Cypriot prejudices

THE MAJORITY of Cypriots believe discrimination over ethnic origin is widespread on the island, according to a European poll.

The Eurobarometer poll found 70 per cent of Cypriots believe that discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin is widespread, exceeding the European average of 61 per cent.

Although 70 per cent of Cypriot citizens say they know or are friends with people from a different ethnic background, they are less likely than most other Europeans to mix with homosexuals or Roma.

According to the poll, 66 per cent of Cypriots believe discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is also widespread, compared to EU average of 47 per cent.

Furthermore, 37 per cent of Cypriots feel intolerance towards homosexuality is likely to put gay candidates for employment at a disadvantage. Eighteen per cent of Europeans share the same view.

Gender is considered by 48 per cent of Cypriot respondents to be a widespread basis for discrimination, eight per cent more than in the EU.

Candidates being discriminated against by potential employers because of their sex is mentioned by 22 per cent of Cypriots, compared to 19 per cent of the EU citizens.

Disability is seen as a potential disadvantage when looking for employment by 55 per cent of Cypriots, 18 per cent more than the EU average.

Most Cypriots consider age discrimination widespread in Cyprus – 54 per cent – just four per cent under the EU average. Age is also seen as potential discriminatory employment criterion by 64 per cent of respondents from Cyprus and 48 per cent from the rest of Europe.

Another factor that can put a candidate at a disadvantage according to 63 per cent of respondents from Cyprus is dress sense and presentation, and 48 per cent of Europeans.

Almost half of the 26,756 Europeans and 65 per cent of the 501 respondents from Cyprus that took part in the poll between May 27 and June 14, believe enough is being done to fight discrimination.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.