The MAREM project: Cyprus
Akylai Abdraimova, Verena Jenter, Juliana Witkowski
Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP “ASYLUM SEEKERS AND RELATED POLICIES IN SOUTHERN
COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION”
3rd - 4th of July 2014
1.
2.
3.
Introduction
Research
Question
State of the Art
4.
5.
6.
7.
Data
Research Results
Conclusions
References
1.Introduction
Basic information:
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Independence from British colonial rule in 1960
(1964-) 1974 partition of the island into North (Turkish Cypriot)
and South (Greek Cypriot) parts
In 2003 the Turkish Cypriot administration lifted (partially) the
ban on freedom of movement, the ceasfire line (referred as
“green line”) opened
1st of May 2004 – Republic of Cyprus joined the EU (but not in
the Schengen area)
Key data:
• Population: 885.600 (0,2% EU); 796.900 in
the Republic of Cyprus
• Area: 9.250 km²
• Unemployment Rate: 16,4% (April 2014)
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1.Introduction
Politics:
•Head of Government: Nicos Anastasiades (Democratic Rally of Cyprus)
• Three largest parties: Democratic Rally of Cyprus (20 Seats), Progressive Party of
Working People (19 Seats), DIKO (9 Seats)
Migration Policy:
•Aliens and Immigration Law of 2009
•Refugee Law of 2000
Migration History:
•Greek Cypriot refugees from the occupied areas since 1960
•Influx of working migrants at the end of 1980’s and in the 90’s from eastern
European countries and the former Soviet Union
•Constant flow of third country nationals (female domestic workers, students).
•Asylum System fully implemented in 2004
•“Economic Citizenship”
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1.Introduction
• Absolute number of asylum
seekers: 2651, new:1250 in
2013
• Relative number of asylum
seekers: 0,3%
• Main Citizenships of asylum
seekers: Syria, Egypt,
Bangladesh, Vietnam,
Pakistan
• Refugees: 3883
• Reception Center in Kofinou
• Detention Center in
Menoyia
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2.Research Question
How do A&R related collective actors and
stakeholders approach their work?
5
3.State of the Art
?
●
Research gap: A&R related organizations and their networks in Cyprus
6
4.Data
Field Study in March 2014:
•5 Expert interviews with A&R-related organizations: FWC (Future Worlds Center), KISA (Greek: Equality,
Support, Antiracism), Volunteer Doctors of Cyprus, Red Cross Cyprus, Caritas
•3 Expert interviews with Scientific organizations: CARDET (Center for the Advancement of Research and
Development in Educational Technology), CUT (Cyprus University of Technology), MIGS (Mediterranen
Institute of Gender Studies)
•3 narrative interviews with refugees: two refugees from Eritrea, one refugee from Cameroon
•All in all: 8 expert interviews, 3 narrative interviews
•Press Conference in Nicosia „Syrian Refugees“
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5.Research Results
Characteristics
Actor types
Norms/values
(religious,
political, human
rights etc.)
Dominant
issue (only on
A&R or
multiple)
Field of
legitimation
(local,
regional,
national, EU,
global
Internal/balanced/
external logics
(members,
resources)
Political decision
makers
Political:
(re)election
Multiple
issues
National,
European
Balanced
Official-executive
actors
Enforcement of
the Law
Multiple
issues
National
Balanced
A&R-related
NGOs (KISA &
FWC)
Human rights
Single issue /
multiple issue
National,
European
Balanced
Scientific
organizations
(e.g. CARDET)
Objectivity,
neutrality,
awareness
Multiple
issues
National,
European,
global
External
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5.Research Results
Future Worlds Center
•Non-profit organisation with multiple isssues , founded in 1992
•Project „Strengthenig Asylum“ , founded in 2006 by UNHCR
•Field of activity: Legal aid, social advice, psychological support,
awareness raising
•Cooperation with other actors – NGOs and the Ombudsman Office – is crucial
•Cooperation with governmental authorities – „It‘s more like a relationship.“ (Member FWC)
•FWC does not see any serious obstacles in their work.
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5.Research Results
KISA
•Non-profit organization, founded in 1998
•Focus on: migration, asylum, racism, discrimination
and trafficking
•Fields of activity: raising awareness, lobbying , providing free information, support, advocacy
and mediation services (Migrant and Refugee Center ); promotion of integration, empowerment
and self-organization of migrants and refugees
•Networks and cooperation: PICUM, ENAR, Ombudsman Office, Commissioner for Children‘s
Rights, EU Bodies (FRA, ECRI, GRETA).
•Obstacles: tendency of the government to criminalize KISA, weak support from society and
government
„The Cypriot society is very party-dominated; NGOs which aren‘t affiliated to any party struggle
for survival.“ (Member of KISA)
„Mainstream structure or powers of the country consider NGOs as a threat and an instrument of
external powers.“ (Member of KISA)
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5.Research Results
CARDET
•Independent research and development center with a wide range of topics, founded in 2004
•Fields of activity:Research and Evaluation, e-learning Development and Evaluation, Learning
Strategic Planning, Organizational Assessment & Capacity Building, Civil Society & Development
Education, Social Justice and Reconciliation Pedagogies
•Network: more than 100 projects in ca. 30 countries
•Tasks: developing tools for policy makers and strategies for the concept of integration
„Cyprus doesn’t have a clear integration policy […]
If migrants come to Cyprus, they know it’s just for
four years, so most of them don’t see a sense in
making efforts to integrate themselves.” (Member
of Cardet)
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5.Research Results
Structure and dynamics of collective actors in the field of A&R:
•Researchers see their task in developing mechanisms to track, support and measure the implementations
of laws.
"We use a combination of tools: We do research, we do training, we organize conferences, seminars and
we do a lot lobbying advocacy for policy change." (Member of scientific organization C005).
•NGOs follow a different approach depending on their principles and goals:
KISA
FWC
RC
Caritas
“KISA tries to pressurize the authority to implement laws concerning migration, refuge and asylum”.
(Member of KISA)
FWC “takes care that they [asylum seekers and refugees] have a fair access to information about their
rights and to the asylum procedure”. (Member of FWC)
“We bring the people (to the NGOs), because they trust us! But they give the expertise and the person is
helped in a professional way - but also in a way that is comforting to the person.” (Member of Caritas)
•Governmental structures and affiliated organizations:
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Migration Department,
Asylum Service,
Welfare & Labor Office,
Police
UNHCR
Ombudsman
Office
Orthodox
Church
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5.Research Results
NGOs‘ and researchers‘ perspective on policy decision makers and official executive actors:
• Policy decision makers: “Cyprus doesn’t have a clear integration policy”. (Member of scientific
organization C002).
“Political leaders and other people in charge pretend to care but if there need to be actions, they don’t do
anything”. (Member of scientific organization C008).
• Migration Department: “The authorities of the migration department want to keep the borders as
closed as possible and the decisions to deport people are made very quickly.[…] It's one of the most
negative departments towards migrants!” (Member of NGO C011)
• Welfare Service: “The welfare benefits for refugees and asylum seekers were cut down on a
minimum[…]So many applicants are dependent on the help of NGOs like Caritas and the Red Cross”
(Member of NGO C011).
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6.Conclusion
•
Context of Cyprus: former colonizations and devision  Attitude towards foreigners
•
Policy decision makers and official executive actors act respectively.
•
The greek orthodox church plays a key role in conveying this perception.
„The poor or non-existing willingness to fully accept migrants, refugees and asylum seekers also
draws from the fact that the Republic of Cyprus is a small country which has the feeling of being
permanently under threat by foreign powers like the Turks, British …”. (Member of NGO C001)
• NGOs took over the responsibilities for A&R
• NGOs share the same objectives, but their strategies and approaches differ.
• Strengthening the cooperation between NGO’s is needed due to lack of capacities, but recent
positive change in communication and coordination among NGOs can be observed.
• No cooperation with NGOs in the Turkish part, but UNHCR has a mediator role.
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7.References
•
Interviews collected in March 2014.
•
Bitoulas, Alexandros (2013): Asylum applications and first instance decisions on asylum applications:
third quarter 2013, online: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-QA-14-003/EN/KSQA-14-003-EN.PDF, checked 11.03.2014.
•
Cyprus Profile (2014): Government and Politics, online: http://www.cyprusprofile.com/en/countryinformation/politics, checked 27.06.2014.
•
UNHCR (2004-2013) Asylum levels and trends in industrialized countries, 2004-2013,
online: http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/search?page=&comid=4146b6fc4&cid=49aea93aba&key
words=Trends, checked 05.05.2014.
•
Statistical Service of Cyprus (2013): Cyprus in Figures 2013, online:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/pgp_ess/news/ess_news_detail?id=161817817&p
g_id=2737&cc=CY_CYPRUS, checked 20.06.2014.
• Pictures:
http://youthoftheworld.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/fwc_transparent.gif
http://www.futureworldscenter.org/images/resized/images/nootheme/demo/SA_Logo_210_110.jpg
http://kisa.org.cy/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/KISA_Logo.jpg
http://medea2020.eu/sites/default/files/imagecache/resized/images/CARDET_300.jpg
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Thank you very much for your attention!
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