Filenews 24 October 2025 - by Dora Christodoulou
The Human Rights Observatory of Neapolis University Pafos has completed its first year of operation with significant initiatives in the field of research, social awareness and public intervention. It was founded in 2024 and is based in the Department of History, Politics and International Studies, being the only university observatory in Cyprus dedicated exclusively to human rights. Its action focuses on three main axes: scientific research, student education, and intervention in public dialogue.
The head of the Observatory, Dr Eleni Gavriel, Lecturer in International Economic Law and Human Rights at Neapolis University Paphos, stressed that the purpose of the initiative is to systematically monitor and evaluate the implementation of human rights in the Republic of Cyprus.
This action is not only academic but also social, she points out. The Observatory acts as a bridge between academic research and society, providing evidence-based, open-access knowledge. Our goal is for this knowledge to feed the public debate and offer reliable tools to institutions, institutions and citizens interested in human rights, she says.
In the academic period 2024/25, the students, graduates and young researchers who staff the Observatory undertook the writing and publication of five thematic studies themselves, emphasizes its head. With their own research work, the legislative framework for the protection of rights in Cyprus was mapped, selected decisions of the European Court of Human Rights were analyzed, the rights of the LGBTQI+ community and Persons with Disabilities were examined.
This project is the first step in mapping the human rights landscape in the country and gives reliable tools to students, professionals and citizens. Gabriel.
At the same time, she also mentioned, awareness actions were carried out that left an imprint on the university community. The "Wall of Silence" gave space to the academic community of the University to share anonymous incidents of human rights violations. The scientific symposium "Hate Speech, Misinformation & LGBTQI+ Visibility", with the participation of academics, organizations and social organizations, opened a lively dialogue on hate speech and its impact on Cypriot society.
The Observatory's presence was extended to the media, with articles and interventions that reflected on critical developments: from the ECtHR rulings on Cyprus to the challenges in the safeguarding of LGBTQI+ rights and the institutional deficiencies in the protection of victims of sexual violence.
We don't want to stay only in our academic cycle, points out Dr Gavriel. We want to open up the debate in society and cultivate a culture of protection and promotion of human rights.
The connection with the study programs of Neapolis University Paphos is also of particular importance, he explains. The activities of the Observatory are directly related to the programs of Neapolis University. They are linked to the undergraduate programme of Law and the undergraduate programme of International Relations and Security, as well as to the postgraduate programmes of International Relations, Strategy and Security and European Politics and Governance. As noted by Dr Gavriel, in this way, students learn to connect theory with practice and develop research skills.
Looking to the future, the Observatory seeks to strengthen its institutional presence and deepen its research activity. For the new academic year, its head announces, the publication of new scientific studies, the further development of collaborations with human rights bodies in Cyprus and abroad, and the organization of actions are planned.
The Observatory is a living space for research, dialogue and social intervention. We seek to make a substantial contribution to the formation of an environment of respect for human rights, in line with the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democracy, concluded Dr. Gavriel.
