Recognition of same-sex unions in Cyprus
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Civil unions
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Cyprus has recognised same-sex unions since 9 December 2015. Legislation to establish civil cohabitations was approved by the Cypriot Parliament on 26 November 2015, and took effect on 9 December upon publication in the government gazette.
Civil cohabitation
Background
In 2010, the Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary, Lazaros Savvides, indicated that the Cypriot Government was considering whether to legalise same-sex marriage in Cyprus. [1] This was followed in 2013 with an announcement by Interior Minister Eleni Mavrou that her ministry was working on a parliamentary bill to establish civil partnerships . [2] The Cypriot Government subsequently gave its official approval to the draft bill. [3] In March of that year, President Nicos Anastasiades , who had been elected in the 2013 presidential election , reaffirmed his support for the bill. [4] In November 2013, Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos confirmed that the bill remained on the government agenda. A draft had been prepared and was sent to other ministries for review, with the intention of holding a parliamentary vote in April 2014. [5] In June 2014, the Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary, Constantinos Nicolaides, confirmed that the bill had been delayed. [6] Hasikos clarified that a proposed bill would "need consensus from all political parties before moving forward". He gave all parties a copy of the bill and asked that they study it in time for a second meeting that September. Hasikos stressed that "he would not hold a vote until he was sure all parties were in favour". [7]
In March 2014, the head of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus , Archbishop Chrysostomos II , signalled his opposition to plans to introduce either civil partnership or marriage rights, urging churches to take a stand against homosexuality and accusing secular governments of "weakening moral integrity" through acknowledging equal rights to gay people: "When, for example, governments legalise not only plain civil partnership but 'homosexual marriage', the Church must be unequivocal in condemning homosexuality." [8]
Passage of legislation in 2015
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Same-sex_marriage_map_Europe_detailed.svg/330px-Same-sex_marriage_map_Europe_detailed.svg.png)
On 6 May 2015, the Council of Ministers approved a bill establishing gender-neutral "cohabitation agreements", offering many of the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage . [9] On 6 June 2015, the ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party announced its support for the partnership law. [10] [11] The bill had its first reading on 18 June. [12] On 1 July, the House of Representatives decided to rename the proposed partnership recognition scheme to "civil cohabitation". [13] [14] The second reading was initially scheduled for 9 July, but was postponed until autumn. [15] The bill passed its second and third reading on 26 November 2015 in a 39–12 vote with 3 abstentions. [16] [17] Those voting in favour were members of the ruling DISY party, the Democratic Party (DIKO), the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), the Movement for Social Democracy , the Ecological and Environmental Movement , and the European Party . Of the 12 MPs that voted against the bill, 6 were members of DISY, 3 were members of DIKO, 1 was a member of Citizens' Alliance , 1 was a member of AKEL, and 1 was an independent . The 3 lawmakers who abstained were all members of DISY. The law was signed by President Anastasiades, published in the government gazette on 9 December 2015 and took effect that same day. [18] [19] [20] The first civil partnership was registered on 29 January 2016 between two women. [21] The first public ceremony was held in Nicosia on 4 March 2016 between Marios Frixou and Fanos Eleftheriades. [22]
The legislation established a partnership scheme known as civil cohabitation, [lower-alpha 1] open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. This provides civil partners with several of the legal rights and benefits of marriage, such as hospital visitation rights, tax benefits , property rights , etc., but excluding adoption rights. [23]
Statistics
By 18 April 2016, eight same-sex partnerships had been registered in Cyprus. [24] [25] By October of the same year, that number had increased to approximately 70 couples. [26]
Civil partnerships are also popular among different-sex couples. As of August 2017, heterosexual couples accounted for about 70% of all partnerships, while same-sex couples made up the remaining 30%. [27] By December 2020, around 1,700 partnerships had been registered, with 90% of these being between heterosexual couples. [28]
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is not legal in Cyprus. The Constitution of Cyprus does not explicitly ban same-sex marriages. Article 22 states that "[a]ny person reaching nubile age is free to marry and to found a family according to the law relating to marriage, applicable to such person under the provisions of this Constitution." [29] In September 2022, activists campaigned for legalization at Cyprus Pride. [30] A number of candidates running in the 2023 presidential election stated their support for same-sex marriage, including the winner, Nikos Christodoulides , and runner-up Andreas Mavroyiannis . [31] [32]
Public opinion
The 2006 Eurobarometer found that only 14% of Cypriots were in favour of same-sex marriage. [33] This was the third lowest in the European Union at the time; only in Latvia and Romania was support lower. The 2015 Eurobarometer found that support had increased to 37%, while 56% were opposed. [34]
A 2014 survey found that 53.3% of Cypriots supported civil unions or partnerships for same-sex couples. [35]
The 2019 Eurobarometer found that 36% of Cypriots thought same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe, while 60% were opposed. [36]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Greek : πολιτική συμβίωση , politikí symvíosi , pronounced [politiˈci simˈviosi] ; Turkish : sivil birliktelik , pronounced [siˈvil biɾlictæˈlic]
References
- ↑ Charalambous, Charles (28 February 2010). "Government to look at legalising gay marriage" . Cyprus Mail . Archived from the original on 9 April 2013 . Retrieved 20 January 2011 .
- ↑ Pantelides, Poly (17 January 2013). "Moving towards civil partnerships" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013 . Retrieved 20 January 2011 .
- ↑ Pantelides, Poly (17 January 2013). "LGBT group hails decision on civil partnerships" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013.
- ↑ "DISY 'fully backs civil partnerships' " . Cyprus Mail. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013.
- ↑ Psillides, Constantinos (19 November 2013). "Civil partnership bill will go ahead" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Psillides, Constantinos (31 May 2014). "Civil partnerships still a long way off" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Psillides, Constantinos (4 July 2014). "Civil partnership bill needs consensus, Hasikos tells MPs" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Anastasiou, Angelos (9 March 2014). "Storm of protest over Archbishop's anti-gay comments" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Psillides, Constantinos (6 May 2015). "Cabinet approves bill on civil partnerships" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ "Συνεδρία Πολιτικού Γραφείου Δημοκρατικού Συναγερμού - Απόφαση για Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης" . Democratic Rally . 7 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Turner, Katy (6 June 2013). "Gay pride parade held in Nicosia" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Christou, Jean (18 June 2015). "Civil partnerships a 'reckless novelty' Bishop says" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ (in Turkish) Temsilciler Meclisinde, sivil birlikte yaşama üzerine bir yasa tasarısı çoğunluk tarafından onaylandı
- ↑ Psyllides, George (1 July 2015). "House tinkers with civil partnership bill ahead of vote" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Hazou, Elias (9 July 2015). "Civil unions bill must wait after 'backroom moves' to water it down" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ Hazou, Elias (26 November 2015). "House passes historic civil partnerships bill" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ "Civil unions become law" . Cyprus Weekly . 26 November 2015. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016.
- ↑ "ΕΠΙΣΗΜΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ ΠΡΩΤΟ ΝΟΜΟΘΕΣΙΑ - ΜΕΡΟΣ Ι Αριθμός 4543 Τετάρτη ,9 Δεκεμβρίου 2015: Αριθμός 184(Ι) του 2015 ΝΟΜΟΣ ΠΟΥ ΠΡΟΝΟΕΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΣΥΝΑΨΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΜΒΙΩΣΗΣ" (PDF) . Ministry of Finance of Cyprus. 9 December 2015. pp. 14–32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ "Τέθηκε σε ισχύ η πολιτική συμβίωση στην Κύπρο" . Antivirus. 11 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ "Civil Unions Bill in effect" . Cyprus Weekly. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ↑ Chrysostomou, Annette (20 January 2016). "First civil partnership to be signed, interest grows" . Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ "Cyprus' first public gay wedding takes aim at prejudices" . Yahoo! News . Associated Press . 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016.
- ↑ Polydorou, Ioanna (12 July 2012). "Cyprus: Civil Partnership" .
- ↑ "Civil unions bringing change to Cyprus" . Cyprus Weekly. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016.
- ↑ Choros, Evgenia (19 April 2016). "Eight Same-Sex Couples Enter Civil Partnership in Cyprus" . Greek Reporter . Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ "Gay Rights Groups Build Alliances to Counter Climate of Fear" . Between the Lines . Associated Press. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017 . Retrieved 1 April 2017 .
- ↑ (in Greek) Σύμφωνο συμβίωσης επιλέξαν 159 ετερόφυλα ζευγάρια και 26 ομόφυλα
- ↑ "Πέντε χρόνια Πολιτικής Συμβίωσης" (in Greek). 9 December 2020.
- ↑ "Cyprus's Constitution of 1960 with Amendments through 2013" (PDF) . Constitute Project . Retrieved 16 September 2022 .
- ↑ Philippou, Eleni (15 September 2022). "Nine days of events to mark Pride 2022" . Cyprus Mail .
- ↑ "Ποιοι υποψήφιοι θα πάνε στο Pride κι η θέση τους για γάμο και τεκνοθεσία" . alphanews.live (in Greek). 24 September 2022. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022.
- ↑ "Andreas Mavroyiannis: Redesign of education policy at fore of hopeful"s vision" . Cyprus Mail . 1 February 2023.
- ↑ Eight EU Countries Back Same-Sex Marriage Angus Reid Global Monitor
- ↑ Special Eurobarometer 437 Archived 17 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Storm of protest over Archbishop"s anti-gay comments
- ↑ "Eurobarometer on Discrimination 2019: The social acceptance of LGBTI people in the EU" . TNS . European Commission. p. 2 . Retrieved 23 September 2019 .
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