President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday reiterated Cyprus’ commitment to working with all UN member states to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights, aligning with the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Forum 2024 in Nicosia, he announced Cyprus’ candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term, with elections set to take place soon.

Referring to a recent UN Secretary-General’s report, Christodoulides expressed concern over the rising number of civilian deaths and displaced persons globally, which exceeded 108 million by the end of 2022. He added that these figures have worsened since then, emphasising the growing number of conflicts since the Cold War.

Focusing on the situation in the Middle East, particularly after the October 7th attack, he highlighted the fragility of peace and the ripple effects of conflicts in the region. He mentioned the ‘Amalthea’ initiative for a humanitarian sea corridor to Gaza, launched in October 2023 in cooperation with France.

Christodoulides then acknowledged that “while the initiative faced criticism domestically, Cyprus proceeded with the humanitarian project, fulfilling its moral duty to assist Gaza’s civilians”.

He also said he was proud of the recognition Cyprus received during his discussions in New York, where international leaders “praised the country’s efforts in addressing the humanitarian crisis”.

The President underlined Cyprus’ role as a key provider of humanitarian aid, despite its own challenges, including occupation and foreign military presence. He reiterated the importance of collective action to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda, while expressing doubts about the likelihood of success at the current pace of implementation.

He concluded by highlighting the interconnected challenges of climate change, migration, and economic development, emphasising the need for political will and a pragmatic approach to achieve sustainable progress.