Author
The Refugee Law defines vulnerable persons in the same way as Article 21 of the recast Reception Conditions Directive:[1]
“[M]inors, unaccompanied minors, disabled people, elderly people, pregnant women, single parents with minor children, victims of human trafficking, persons with serious illnesses, persons with mental disorders and persons who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence, such as victims of female genital mutilation.”
The law also introduces an identification mechanism which provides that an individual assessment shall be carried out to determine whether a specific person has special reception needs and/or requires special procedural guarantees, and the nature of those needs.[2] These individualised assessments should be performed within a reasonable time during the early stages of applying for asylum, and the requirement to address special reception needs and/or special procedural guarantees applies at any time such needs are identified or ascertained. However, there are several issues with this screening (for a comprehensive overview, see section on Identification).
In practice, the identification of vulnerabilities and needs is conducted mainly in the First Reception Center in Pournara (see section: Identification), however even when vulnerable cases are identified, no official guidelines are available for effectively attending the needs of the identified individuals both while in the Centre and when exiting into the community. In certain vulnerable cases, the SWS arranges temporary accommodation. This, however, is only offered to specific vulnerabilities such as single mothers with young children, pregnant women, persons with serious mental and physical disabilities and only if identified by the vulnerability assessment team. Overall, addressing the needs of vulnerable cases in the community remains extremely problematic and varies greatly, since no defined procedure to guaranty effective support is followed.[3]
In 2021, in collaboration with the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS), UNHCR Cyprus mapped the experiences and impact of sexual and gender-based violence among female and male asylum applicants in the Pournara First Reception Centre and highlighted that 49% of all women assessed were identified as victims of sexual or gender-based violence. The organisations added that the high share can be further contextualised with the higher rate of male arrivals and the higher number of men assessed in the mapping. The study observed a general lack of data on sexual or gender-based violence among asylum-seeking and refugee women and put forward specific recommendations to improve data collection, reception conditions, specialised support services, access to information, housing and accommodation, as well as employment and training.[4] The findings of the Study remained relevant in 2024 as did the vast majority of the recommendations.
In 2023, the UN Human Rights Committee raised concerns that not all asylum-seekers at Pournara reception centre undergo a vulnerability assessment and recommended that measures are strengthened to ensure early identification, referral, assistance and support for all vulnerable asylum-seekers, including by establishing a formal and comprehensive procedure for identifying, assessing and addressing the specific needs of vulnerable asylum-seekers. [5]
Victims of Trafficking
The Social Welfare Services operates a specialised shelter for victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation with the capacity to accommodate 15 victims, with the possibility of female asylum applicants, adults or UASC victim of trafficking for sexual exploitation to be placed there. Apart from the State shelter, two NGOs, Wellspring Association and Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family, run housing programs, in which victims of trafficking can be accommodated:
- Wellspring Association – Transition House:[6] A temporary home for women victim of sexual exploitation due to human trafficking, where they receive care and support on a 24-hour basis. The women accommodated there, have the possibility to engage in cooking and confectionery courses, Greek and English courses, as well as life-coaching courses. Moreover, women have the possibility to engage in the second-hand shop of the Association. The long-term goals of the program are rehabilitation and social reintegration. There is a capacity for 6 women.
- Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family – Sophie’s House:[7]
It is a safe house where adult women or minor girls and their children experiencing domestic violence and sexual exploitation can be temporarily accommodated for protection, support and care purposes. The program offers many services and facilities, incl. transportation to the necessary services (g., medical care, mental health care), provision of legal advice, Greek language lessons, specialized officers with the responsibilities to provide children care and supervision, guidance, and consultation to the mother, as well as social workers who make sure that the social and interpersonal difficulties of the mother and child are solved. Additionally, the program secures that all the basic needs of the mother and children are satisfied, such as food and clothing. Τhe long-term goals of the program are rehabilitation and social reintegration. There is a capacity for 10 women with their children.
[1] Article 9KΓ Refugee Law.
[2] Articles 9KΔ(a) and 10A Refugee Law.
[3] Information provided by Cyprus Refugee Council.
[4] UNHCR Cyprus and MISGS, Sexual and Gender-based Violence among Asylum-Applicants in Cyprus, 2 December 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3JN8LdQ.
[5] UN, CCPR Human Rights Committee, Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Cyprus, September 2023, available here
[6] For more information, see Wellspring Association’s webpage, available here.
[7] For more information, see Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family – Sophie’s House’s webpage, available here.