South Cyprus Commissioner for Children’s Rights Mihailidu: “Children of Mixed Marriages Are Being Victimized”
The Cypriot Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Despo Mihailidu Livaniu, who recently met with the “Stateless Association,” an organization advocating for the citizenship rights of children born from marriages between Turkish Cypriots and Turks—commonly referred to as “mixed marriages” by Greek Cypriots—stated, “Children born from mixed marriages are being victimized.” She emphasized that the Greek Cypriot administration must take this issue seriously.
According to a report by the news outlet ANT1, Mihailidu responded to questions from the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) regarding the issue. She acknowledged that the problem persists and is well known, stating, “This issue does not only concern children of Turkish Cypriots and Turkish settlers. There are also children with one immigrant parent or children whose fathers are unknown.”
Mihailidu pointed out that the issue concerning children born from marriages between Turkish Cypriots and Turks is “political.” However, she stressed that the fundamental principle is that “no child should be stateless.” She added, “These children cannot leave the country, study abroad, or move freely; they are stranded.”
Mihailidu mentioned that she visited the Greek Cypriot Minister of the Interior on Children’s Rights Day, accompanied by an 18-year-old girl born on the island who has not been granted citizenship. She noted that the minister was surprised by the girl’s situation.
She further explained that while the Greek Cypriot Cabinet has introduced certain exceptional regulations, children are still being victimized, and the administration must handle this issue with seriousness. Mihailidu emphasized that her office has made numerous interventions on this matter, even presenting its position before the Greek Cypriot Parliament, and stated that her office may take some cases to court.
