On 14 November 2017, the University of Nicosia hosted a symposium on fundamental rights, organised by the University’s Centre for Fundamental Rights. This took place on the occasion of the visit to Cyprus of Gabriel Toggenburg, Senior Legal Advisor at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
The Symposium, chaired and coordinated by Prof Nicos Trimikliniotis of the University of Nicosia, was addressed by two independent public officers, Ms. Leda Koursoumpa, Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Children, and Ms. Eirini Loizidou Nicolaidou, Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data, who presented the framework and challenges facing the implementation of fundamental rights in their respective mandates.
FRA’s Mr. Gabriel Toggenburg presented the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the opportunities it presents and the restrictions it is faced with Dr Aris Constantinides, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Nicosia, delivered a critique on the implementation of the EU fundamental rights acquis by the Cypriot Courts. Mr. Aristos Tsiartas, former head of the Anti-discrimination Authority of the Ombudsman’s Office, delivered a paper on the history of racism and discrimination in Cyprus, touching on the particular need to combat them in the increasingly diverse and multicultural setting of Cyprus. Professor Costas Constantinou of the University of Cyprus presented an argument on the Agambian states of exception and the applicability of the concept in the case of Cyprus. Finally, the former Attorney General, Mr. Alecos Markides, presented an overview of the role and significance of fundamental rights in the context of the Cyprus Problem.
The presentations were followed by a lively discussion which continued over a wine reception in the lobby.