The Penal Code (Amendment) is Entered Into Force

The Penal Code (Amendment), which contains articles on Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling and Hate Speech, was published in the Official Newspaper and entered into force on Monday, March 23, 2020.

In the amendment of the Penal Code made in 2014, Article 171 was positively changed to “Hate Speech for Gender, Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity” and it was arranged under the heading “Ground and Cadence for Gender, Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity”. But in the meantime, it was observed that this article could not be applied in practice and was inadequate in punishing hate speech. In addition, due to the absence of any criminal sanctions on Human Trafficking and Human Trafficking, the North of Cyprus has become a center of human traffickers, modern slavery, where human rights and freedoms are neglected. It was also included in the Human Trafficking Report prepared for the 180 countries each year by the United States Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Penal Code amendment proposal submitted by the CTP Deputies Doğuş Derya, Fazilet Özdenefe and Sıla Usar İncirli two years ago was again brought to the agenda by the Law, Political Affairs and Foreign Relations Committee. As “Exploitation Free LGBTI + (Life)” Project  which is funded by the European Union under the Together Against Trafficking in Human Beings Grant Scheme and implemented by Queer Cyprus Association in cooperation with KAOS-GL and “Coordinated Measures and Mechanisms for Anti-trafficking (COMMIT)” Project along with and its stakeholders took part in committee meeting. The Penalty (Amendment) Law Proposal was adopted unanimously on 26 February 2020 by the Law, Political Affairs and External Relations Committee.

The Penal Code Amendment Proposal, which includes articles on human trafficking, human trafficking and hate speech, was accepted by majority in the Republican Assembly, which was held on Monday, March 09, 2020. On Monday, March 23, 2020, the Penal Code, which contains articles related to Human Trafficking, Human Trafficking and Hate Speech, was officially published in the Official Newspaper and came into force. We would like to announce that this law is a big step taken in the name of human rights, and we will continue our struggle for a Cyprus where our colors and diversity will flourish without any kind of exploitation and  marginalization.

In the attached file, you can find the Turkish and English text of the Penal (Amendment) Code.

 

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