Recognition of same-sex unions in Cyprus
Includes laws that have not yet gone into effect.
Cyprus has recognised same-sex unions since 9 December 2015 by allowing people to enter into Civil Union. The bill to establish civil union was approved by the parliament on 26 November 2015. It was published in the official gazette on 9 December 2015.
Contents
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
By 18 April 2016, eight same-sex civil unions were registered.[20][21]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Moving towards civil partnerships
- ↑ LGBT group hails decision on civil partnerships
- ↑ DISY ‘fully backs civil partnerships’
- ↑ Civil partnership bill will go ahead
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Cabinet approves bill on civil partnerships
- ↑ Συνεδρία Πολιτικού Γραφείου Δημοκρατικού Συναγερμού - Απόφαση για Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης
- ↑ Gay pride parade held in Nicosia
- ↑ Civil partnerships a ‘reckless novelty’ Bishop says
- ↑ House tinkers with civil partnership bill ahead of vote
- ↑ Civil unions bill must wait after ‘backroom moves’ to water it down
- ↑ House passes historic civil partnerships bill
- ↑ Civil unions become law
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Τέθηκε σε ισχύ η πολιτική συμβίωση στην Κύπρο
- ↑ Civil Unions Bill in effect
- ↑ Civil unions bringing change to Cyprus
- ↑ Eight Same-Sex Couples Enter Civil Partnership in Cyprus
