🌍In collaboration with Generation for Change and Generation 2
Here is update from the AntiRacism360 project — a collaborative initiative between Generation for Change, Generation 2.0 RED, and the community in Cyprus. On March 11, 2025, we hosted a powerful focus group in Nicosia, Cyprus, engaging with CSO professionals, anti-racist activists and racialized individuals to shed light on experiences with racism, structural discrimination, and everyday exclusion.
The goal of this focus group was to listen deeply, reflect collectively, and gather insights from lived experiences that will inform our future work, advocacy, and solidarity efforts. Thank you to everyone who took the time to show up, speak up, and trust us with their stories.
🗣️ Input from the Focus Group
🚫 Barriers in Daily Life
Participants shared how racism affects their access to housing, employment, and education. A Black participant recounted how landlords often retract offers when they meet him in person — a clear example of racial discrimination in the housing market. Similarly, many shared how jobs are often inaccessible and that assumptions are made about their abilities based on their skin color.
“You agree on the price over the phone, but once they see you in person, the house is suddenly ‘taken’.”
Black employees also reported customers refusing to be served by them. Even when companies or managers stood in solidarity, the emotional toll remains high.
🚍 Public Space and Policing
Multiple stories described racial profiling and police intimidation. From unnecessary stop-and-searches in public squares to offensive remarks by officers, the message was clear: racialized people are made to feel like they don’t belong. A particularly hurtful example included a man being told by a police officer to “go back to your jungles.”
Police behavior drastically changes based on a person’s appearance, highlighting the sharp contrast in treatment between white locals and migrants or refugees.
📰 The Role of Media
The media came up frequently as a source of fear-mongering and othering. Participants pointed to misleading imagery and narratives — particularly those that consistently depict Black individuals when discussing migration or crime. This contributes to growing societal fear and alienation.
“They show Black faces even when the issue has nothing to do with Black people — this only increases fear.”
👩🏾🤝🧑🏽 Sexualization and Human Trafficking
Participants from both the northern and southern parts of Cyprus raised urgent concerns about African women being trafficked under the guise of education or employment. Once in Cyprus, some are subjected to forced prostitution and find themselves in cycles of debt bondage.
Black women also reported frequent sexual harassment, particularly being assumed to be sex workers — an issue deeply rooted in both racism and misogyny.
🚸 Education and Disability Rights
Access to education, especially for refugee children or those with irregular status, was described as extremely limited. One participant with a disability highlighted how intersectional barriers — being both Black and disabled — result in further isolation. There is no clear policy framework in Cyprus to support people with disabilities, and many are ashamed or afraid to leave their homes due to stigma and lack of access.
💔 Mental Health and Isolation
Many participants expressed feelings of depression, isolation, and fear. Rejection, constant surveillance, and discriminatory treatment make it difficult for racialized individuals to feel safe in public or to participate in community life. One powerful statement summed it up:
“We come with hope and expectations — but the reality here often breaks people down.”
🧩 Looking Forward: From Listening to Action
The focus group reminded us of how urgently we need sustainable, inclusive, and justice-oriented responses to racism in all its forms. This is not just about changing attitudes — it’s about changing systems. The voices we heard will guide our advocacy and educational tools as we move into the next phase of AntiRacism360.
We’re committed to ensuring that racialized individuals are not only heard but also centered in the fight for justice. Together, with our partners and community, we’ll continue to create spaces for truth-telling, healing, and transformation.
With warmth and solidarity,
The AntiRacism360 Team
📢 Stay connected with us on social media and help amplify these voices. The journey toward anti-racism is collective — and we’re glad to walk it with you.