Cyprus has been participating in the ERF since 2004, with the Asylum Service being appointed as the responsible authority for its implementation.
The national program for the implementation of the ERF is mainly focused on actions in the areas of reception of asylum seekers and integration of persons enjoying a form of international protection (including refugees) currently residing in Cyprus.
The URVT operates on the premise that no one shall be "subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
"(Article 5, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948) The URVT is dedicated to helping victims of torture and their families rebuild their lives, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or economic or legal status.
The referral is based on an obligation stipulated in the Cyprus Refugee Law according to which when an applicant claims torture the Asylum Service must refer him/her to a specialist doctor.