Most complaints of racism made by EU citizens

MOST complaints made to the Authority against Racism and Discrimination (ARD) in 2008 related to the unequal treatment of EU citizens, age discrimination and gender inequality, Ombudswoman Iliana Nicoloau said yesterday, in her capacity as head of the authority.

Speaking after presenting the 2008 reports by the ARD and the Ombudsman’s Office to President Demetris Christofias, Nicolaou said that most complaints were received from EU citizens alleging discriminatory treatment in relation to Cypriots, in contravention of rights enshrined in EU law.

Regarding the principle of gender equality, she added: “We have not been able to apply it in practice”.

“In 2010 we are taking part in a European programme of information education on matters relating to racism and equal treatment, and we will be holding a series of interesting events in Cyprus,” she said.

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.