Recognition of same-sex unions in Cyprus

Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe

  Marriage

  Foreign marriages recognized

  Other type of partnership

  Unregistered cohabitation

  Unrecognized

  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples

---- Includes laws that have not yet gone into effect.

Cyprus has recognised same-sex unions since 9 December 2015 by allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil cohabitation. A bill to establish civil cohabitation was approved by the Cypriot Parliament on 26 November 2015. The law took effect on 9 December 2015 upon publication in the country's official gazette.

History

In 2010, the Permanent Secretary at the Cypriot Interior Ministry, Lazaros Savvides, indicated that the government would begin examining the issue of whether same-sex marriage should be made legal in the country.^[1]

This was followed in 2013 by an announcement by the Interior Minister, Eleni Mavrou, that her officials were working on a parliamentary bill proposing the creation of civil partnerships, rather than extending the right to marry to same-sex couples.^[2] The government subsequently accepted the draft bill.^[3] In March of that year, the newly elected president Nicos Anastasiades and his government reaffirmed their support for the bill.^[4] In November 2013, the Interior Minister, Socratis Hasikos, confirmed that the bill remained on the Government's agenda, with a draft prepared and sent to other Ministries for review. The intention was to hold a parliamentary vote in April 2014,^[5] but, as of June 2014, the bill had still not been submitted. According to the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Constantinos Nicolaides, the bill should have been completed in April, but was is still being drafted.^[6] In July 2014, Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos clarified that a proposed bill would need consensus from all 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 same 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 homosexuals: “When, for example, governments legalise not only plain civil partnership but ‘homosexual marriage’, the Church must be unequivocal in condemning homosexuality.”^[8]

On 6 May 2015, the Cypriot Cabinet approved a gender-neutral cohabitation agreement bill with many of the rights of marriage.^[9] On 6 June 2015, the ruling party DISY announced their support for the partnership law.^[10][11] The bill had its first reading on 18 June 2015.^[12] On 1 July 2015, parliament decided to rename the proposed partnership recognition scheme to civil cohabitation.^[13] The second reading was initially planned to be held on 9 July, but was postponed until autumn.^[14] The bill had its second and third reading on 26 November 2015 and passed in a 39-12 vote, with 3 abstentions.^[15][16] It was published in the official gazette on 9 December 2015 and took effect upon publication.^[17][18][19]

Statistics

The country's first civil cohabitation was registered on 29 January 2016 by two women.^[20] The first public ceremony was held on 4 March 2016 by two men in the capital city of Nicosia.^[21]

By 18 April 2016, eight same-sex civil cohabitations were registered.^[22][23]

From January to October 2016, approximately 70 same-sex couples had registered their unions in the country.^[24]

See also

• LGBT rights in Cyprus
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe

References

1. "Government to look at legalising gay marriage". Cyprus-mail.com. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
2. Moving towards civil partnerships
3. LGBT group hails decision on civil partnerships
4. DISY ‘fully backs civil partnerships’
5. Civil partnership bill will go ahead
6. "Civil partnerships still a long way off". Cyprus-mail.com. 31 May 2014.
7. "Civil partnership bill needs consensus, Hasikos tells MPs". Cyprus-mail.com. 4 July 2014.
8. "Storm of protest over Archbishop's anti-gay comments". Cyprus Mail. 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
9. Cabinet approves bill on civil partnerships
10. Συνεδρία Πολιτικού Γραφείου Δημοκρατικού Συναγερμού - Απόφαση για Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης
11. Gay pride parade held in Nicosia
12. Civil partnerships a ‘reckless novelty’ Bishop says
13. House tinkers with civil partnership bill ahead of vote
14. Civil unions bill must wait after ‘backroom moves’ to water it down
15. House passes historic civil partnerships bill
16. Civil unions become law
17. 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, pp. 14-32
18. Τέθηκε σε ισχύ η πολιτική συμβίωση στην Κύπρο
19. Civil Unions Bill in effect
20. Chrysostomou, Annette (20 January 2016). "First civil partnership to be signed, interest grows". Cyprus Mail.
21. "Cyprus' first public gay wedding takes aim at prejudices". Yahoo News. 4 March 2016.
22. Civil unions bringing change to Cyprus
23. Eight Same-Sex Couples Enter Civil Partnership in Cyprus
24. Gay Rights Groups Build Alliances to Counter Climate of Fear "He said some 70 gay and lesbian couples have had their civil unions recognized since the Cyprus Parliament legalized such unions last year."