Cyprus’s ministries are fighting over who should handle human trafficking crimes, with a Migration Deputy Ministry official openly telling Parliament “we do nothing on this issue” as coordination collapses following a Channel 4 investigation into sexual harassment in Ayia Napa.
Ministries passed responsibility between the Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry and Migration Deputy Ministry at a House Human Rights Committee hearing that exposed bureaucratic paralysis, with officials unable to clarify who combats trafficking.
“We do nothing on this issue. We have no action,” Migration Deputy Ministry official Xenia Georgiadi told the committee. The Deputy Ministry coordinates but has no operational role, she said, noting police hold the primary role.
Committee chair Irene Charalambidou said trafficking should not have gone to the Migration Deputy Ministry . The coordination issue will be re-examined and both the migration deputy minister and justice minister will be called to Parliament, she said.
MPs and other participants pressed the Justice Ministry to take over coordination.
Justice Ministry legal officer Spyros Yiallouridis said his ministry participates in the multi-agency trafficking group. Both police and Justice Ministry officials refused to say whether Justice should assume trafficking responsibilities, calling it a political matter.
MP Rita Superman called it a serious error that trafficking left the Interior Ministry and went to the Migration Deputy Ministry rather than the Justice Ministry.
“Only in Turkey does trafficking fall under the Migration Ministry,” she said, adding the Justice Ministry did not want to assume responsibility. Trafficking is a human rights issue with migration serving as an additional vulnerability factor, she said.
Charalambidou said the Justice Ministry must answer questions about trafficking under the new justice minister.
Labour Ministry representative Christina Mitidou repeated her ministry is not responsible for trafficking, forcing the committee to prepare a letter demanding answers about inspections conducted before and after the Channel 4 video.
The Social Welfare Deputy Ministry said it received no complaints.
Police cite operations as ministries deflect
Police Crime Combating Department assistant director Andreas Anastasiades said 30 people have been convicted over five years in trafficking cases involving sexual or labour exploitation. Police conducted extensive checks at Ayia Napa establishments, he said.
Operations ran across Cyprus—26 in 2022, 37 in 2023, 33 in 2024 and 18 so far in 2025.
Thirty people have been convicted since 2021 with 30 cases still pending in court. Police conduct joint operations with Europol three times yearly and work with other agencies, Anastasiades said.
Police received a large number of statements regarding the Channel 4 investigation.
“Serious work is being done, we have involved Interpol, Europol, Cybercrime and the Trafficking Department. Everyone is working with utmost seriousness,” Anastasiades said.
Mayor calls harassment ‘isolated’ amid 45,000 daily tourists
Ayia Napa mayor Christos Zannettou called the Channel 4 case an isolated incident as the municipality awaits investigation results into establishments mentioned in the video.
“We have 45,000 tourists daily and more than 10,000 people employed. Such incidents do not honour us, but they are isolated,” he said.
The municipality conducted investigations following complaints about workers’ living conditions whilst it held responsibility, Zannettou said.
Websites based in the Netherlands advertise jobs promising work and a bed—not a room—for accommodation, he said. “These incidents relate to nightlife and other complaints such as noise pollution.”
Gender equality commissioner ‘did nothing’
MPs attacked the gender equality commissioner’s office for failing to respond to the Channel 4 investigation.
Office representative Andreas Misos said commissioner Josie Christodoulou condemns any act of sexual or labour exploitation but is abroad. MPs said she has not attended committee meetings for months.
Charalambidou said Christodoulou should have called police and responsible authorities after the video aired and should have prepared a report. Misos responded this would be wishful thinking as Christodoulou has no institutional role.
“The commissioner has selective sensitivity,” Charalambidou said.
When she asked what action the commissioner had taken, Misos replied: “I have no answer.”
“So she did nothing,” Charalambidou responded.
NGOs excluded from coordination meetings
Trafficking is managed through a multi-agency group coordinated by the Migration Deputy Ministry, but few meetings have been held—three in 2024 and one in 2025, around mid-December, where the harmonisation bill was discussed.
Cyprus Stop Trafficking chair Paraskeui Tzeou said the organisation was not invited to multi-agency meetings. The Migration Deputy Ministry said other organisations needed to participate, which is why they were excluded, she said.
Step Up Stop Slavery founder Katerina Stefanou said her organisation was not invited to the December multi-agency meeting.
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