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In accordance with the Refugee Law, the Asylum Service must ensure that all asylum seekers are given access to information regarding the asylum procedure, their rights to access material reception conditions, and organisations/services offering legal and social assistance to asylum seekers as well as their legal obligations so as they can maintain their legal status. This information should be provided in the form of a booklet/leaflet in a language the applicant can understand.
In practice, the information available and provided to asylum seekers is that described in the section Information for Asylum Seekers and Access to NGOs and UNHCR of this report.
Four EUAA Info Providers are currently stationed at the ‘Pournara’ First Reception Center providing group sessions in the presence of interpreters. The group sessions include information on the registration process in the Reception Center, the asylum procedure and reception conditions. While at present the information is provided orally, the aim is to include in writing in the future. Furthermore, the information provision sessions are offered to adults only. Responsibility for the UASC is considered to be on the SWS who act as Guardians. A leaflet published by UNHR is also disseminated to the residents, containing basic information.
According to the EUAA operating plan for 2022-2024, support will continue to be provided in Kofinou and Pournara for information provision activities by Asylum Information Provision Experts.[1]
Residents of Kofinou Reception Centre are provided with leaflets on various topics, such as the Centre’s standard operation procedure, medical coverage rights, volunteer services, vital information about Cyprus and services in the community, and information on COVID-19.
Regarding Limnes, and according to the EUAA, an information leaflet on the daily operations of the Limnes accommodation centre was made available.[2]
There is no leaflet/information booklet available at the District Welfare offices and District Labour Offices concerning the access of asylum seekers to material assistance and employment. Information concerning employment can be found on the site of the Labour Department.[3]
[1] EASO, Operating Plan, Cyprus 2022-2024, available at: https://bit.ly/37ezU8Z.
[2] EUAA, Asylum Report 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/40F9GDr.
[3] Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, Employment of Asylum Seekers, available at: https://bit.ly/39ZtDuk.