Cyprus government prepares a bill on cohabitation

The government of Cyprus is preparing a bill on cohabitation, Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides has said.

The Spokesman was speaking Monday at an event during which Cypriot Alecos Modinos, a gay rights activist, was honored.

Stylianides said that the government is preparing a bill on cohabitation and will amend the Criminal Code to criminalize homophobic rhetoric.

The event took place on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment following an appeal by Alekos Modinos for the violation of the right to privacy, as until 1998 sexual relations between men was a criminal offense in Cyprus.

The event took marked the International Day of Human Rights and was organised by the Organization Accept LGBT Cyprus (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans), the Office of the Commissioner of Administration (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Cyprus, the Office of the European Parliament in Cyprus and the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus.

All speakers at the event praised Modinos’ courage to publicly declare his sexual identity – in a society and a state in which homosexuality was considered a disease –and further begin a long legal battle to secure the right to privacy for all homosexuals.