4.1 General context
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Main challenges to social inclusion
There are different challenges when it comes to social inclusion on young people in Cyprus. According to the Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey conducted by the Statistical Service in 2022 in Cyprus the risk-of-poverty is 16,7% compared to 17,3% in 2021, approximately 4,000 fewer individuals are in danger of poverty or social exclusion in 2022 (150,000) compared to 2021 (154,000). The risk-of-poverty rate for children 0-17 years old is 18,1. Also, it has to be underlined the fact that women are more likely (18%) to be in a situation of poverty and social exclusion compared to men (16,7%). Furthermore, the monetary threshold of the poverty risk in 2022 is 7% higher than in 2021.
Moreover, according to the Database of the Statistical Service with regard to Migration movements, there has been an increase in the number of immigrants arriving to Cyprus since 2014. Specifically, in 2014, 9.212 immigrants arrived to Cyprus, 15.183 immigrants in 2015, 17.391 in 2016, 21.306 in 2017, 23.442 in 2018, 26.170 in 2019, 25.861 in 2020 and 24.001 in 2021. Also, it is important to state that according to the 2021 Population Census the population in the Republic of Cyprus is 923.272, following an increase of 9,9 % compared to the one in 2011.
The report “Overview of statistical practice” published by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles indicated that in 2022 Cyprus received 22,182 applications for asylum. In addition to that, according to the Education and Training Monitor 2022 – Cyprus Report, Cyprus has one of the EU’s highest asylum application-to-inhabitant ratio.
Lastly, according to the UNHCR report of 2019 entitled “The Integration of Refugees in Cyprus: Social Inclusion and Discrimination”, “discrimination is inextricably linked to lack of acceptance of diversity, which was acknowledged as a major obstacle to social inclusion…in incidents occurred at work and school”.
Main concepts
There is no national definition of social inclusion. However, the main concepts associated to social inclusion, as stated in the Strategy of Social Policy 2022-2027 ("Στρατηγική για την Κοινωνική Πολιτική 2022-2027") prepared by the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance can be summarized to the following areas: poverty indicators or social exclusion indicators, inclusion for persons with disabilities, support programmes for children, women and families, creation of new jobs, social cohesion and social welfare.