The Cyprus chapter of Diplomats for Equality joins together to celebrate the international month of Pride and mark the 2024 International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17. We stand united in our shared commitment to safeguard and champion human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics.

The Republic of Cyprus has taken significant strides towards the recognition and protection of human rights for LGBTQI+ persons. We welcome the government’s adoption of legislation criminalizing conversion therapies, a positive step to end practices which inflict considerable harm on LGBTQI+ persons. We encourage it to consider introducing an amendment to remove the legislative exclusion of same-sex couples in civil union from adoption. Further, we hope to see renewed progress on the legal gender identity recognition bill. Finally, we encourage the government of the Republic of Cyprus to recognize same-sex marriages conducted abroad, ensuring that couples enjoy equal rights no matter where they are.

Globally, full LGBTQI+ equality faces challenges, 66 countries still criminalize same-sex relations. Ten impose the death penalty. We deplore LGBTQI+ criminalization legislation which undermines human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We commend the work of LGBTQI+ civil society groups across Cyprus and the pivotal role they continue to play in promoting the rights and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ persons. The relentless work of Accept – LGBTI Cyprus, Queer Cyprus Association, Queer Wave, LGBT Africa, LGBT Pilipinas, Queer Collective, Rainbow Families Cyprus, University of Cyprus LGBTQIA+ & Allies Club, European University of Cyprus LGBTQ+ Society, LGBTQ+ Cypriot Diaspora, and others has helped raise awareness, advocacy, and education, fostered a more inclusive environment, and promoted greater visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQI+ community. We commend the efforts of Turkish Cypriot LGBTQI+ civil society groups, whose targeted campaigns and public engagements have successfully initiated crucial conversations around LGBTQI+ rights, dispelled prejudices and misconceptions, and bridged gaps of understanding. Furthermore, we extend our congratulations to Accept – LGBTI Cyprus and Queer Cyprus Association for their decade-long partnership, culminating in their recent achievement of winning the European Citizen’s Prize for 2023, as a recognition for their collaborative efforts in organising the Annual Cyprus Pride Festival.

The business community has a key role to play by supporting LGBTQI+ employees and lifestyles and offering employment based on skills and skills alone.

In solidarity, we celebrate how far we have come in raising the visibility of LGBTQI+ persons as we highlight how much more work there is to be done for a reality where everyone, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics, is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

• Australian High Commission

• Embassy of the Republic of Austria

• Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium

• British High Commission

• High Commission of Canada

• Embassy of the Republic of Cuba

• Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark

• Embassy of the Republic of Estonia

• Embassy of the French Republic

• Embassy of Finland

• Embassy of the Hellenic Republic

• Embassy of Ireland

• Embassy of the State of Israel

• Embassy of the Republic of Italy

• Embassy of Japan

• Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania

• High Commission of the Republic of Malta

• Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

• High Commission of New Zealand

• Royal Norwegian Embassy

• Embassy of the Portuguese Republic

• Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden

• Embassy of Switzerland

• Embassy of the United States of America 

• Representation of the European Commission

• Office of the European Parliament in Cyprus
  
  as well as:
  United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and the
  UN Secretary-General’s Good Offices mission