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Human rights commissioner Maria Stylianou-Lottides has renewed her office’s commitment to protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in a message marking World Refugee Day.
In a written statement issued on Saturday, Stylianou-Lottides said refugee protection must be viewed through the lens of human rights and human dignity rather than charity. She stressed that people seeking asylum are often acting out of necessity after being forced to leave their homes.
Referring to recent figures from international organisations, the commissioner said global displacement has reached unprecedented levels. Behind the statistics, she said, are individuals and families who have experienced conflict, loss and trauma.
She also pointed to the principle of non-refoulement, one of the fundamental rules of international refugee law, which prohibits the return of people to countries where they may face persecution or serious harm.
Commenting on Cyprus, Stylianou-Lottides said the country remains a key destination for migration and asylum arrivals in the Eastern Mediterranean. While acknowledging the challenges involved, she said authorities must continue to ensure that asylum claims are examined fairly and efficiently, while providing appropriate reception conditions and access to essential rights.
The commissioner said her office has consistently focused on issues affecting asylum seekers, including conditions in reception facilities, access to healthcare and education, safeguards for unaccompanied children, and protection from discrimination and mistreatment.
She also referred to Cyprus’ own history of displacement following the 1974 Turkish invasion, which forced thousands of Cypriots from their homes. That experience, she said, should encourage empathy towards people seeking refuge today.
Stylianou-Lottides concluded by calling for practical measures that strengthen refugee protection systems, support integration efforts and address the factors that lead people to flee their countries.
