Communication | Doc. 13933 | 16 December 2015

Election of judges to the European Court of Human Rights{In accordance with Article 22 of the European Convention on Human Rights.}

List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Cyprus

Author(s): Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly

1. List and curricula vitae of candidates submitted by the Government of Cyprus

Letter from Ms Theodora Constantinidou, Ambassador of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, to Mr Wojciech Sawicki, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, dated 25 November 2015.

[…]

I have the pleasure to submit here below, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, the names of the three candidates for the election of the Cypriot Judge to the European Court of Human Rights, for your further actions:

Ms Elena EFREM

Dr. Georgios A. SERGHIDES

Dr. Costakis PARASKEVA

The curricula vitae of the candidates in English and in French are enclosed.

[…]

Letter from Ms Theodora Constantinidou, Ambassador of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, to Mr Wojciech Sawicki, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly, dated 10 December 2015.

[…]

Following my letter dated 25th November 2015, informing you on the list of the three candidates for the election of the Cypriot Judge to the European Court of Human Rights and enclosing their Curricula Vitae, please find enclosed, the updated Curricula Vitae of the three candidates in English and French.

[…]

Information on national selection procedure for the position of a judge of the European Court of Human Rights

As regards the national procedures followed for the selection of the three candidates, I would like to inform you that upon a Decision by the Council of Ministers of the Republic (Decision 76.854 of 3rd July 2014), the procedure for the selection of candidates has been amended taking into consideration the relevant Resolution of PACE and the Committee of Ministers’ Guidelines. The newly established body for the selection of the candidates provided by the above said Decision is composed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs as a chair, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, the President of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, the Ombudsman, the President of the Cyprus Bar Association and two University professors.

As per the national procedure, the above mentioned candidates were selected upon evaluation of all candidatures submitted and interviews held by the competent national committee, as described above.

Appendix 1 – Elena EFREM

(open)

CURRICULUM VITAE

I. Personal details

Name: Elena Efrem

Sex: Female

Date and place of birth: 20th February 1969, Nicosia, Cyprus

Nationality/ies: Cypriot

II. Education and academic and other qualifications

1986 – Acropolis Gymnasium/Lyceum (Nicosia) – Leaving Certificate – (awarded for second place)

1989 – LLB with Honors – University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK)

1990 – Barrister–at–Law, Gray’s Inn (UK)

1991 – LLM – King’s College, University of London (UK)

1992 – Called to the Cyprus Bar – Cyprus Bar Exams (awarded for first place)

2012 – Course Diploma – Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters in Europe (5th Edition) – European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) (Madrid–Spain)

2014 – Course Diploma – The Judge in the European Judicial Area in Civil and Commercial Matters – European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) (Barcelona – Spain)

2015 – Certified as a HELP Trainer – Training of HELP Trainers, The European Program on Human Rights for Legal Professionals (HELP) (Council of Europe) (Strasbourg – France)

III. Relevant professional activities

a. Description of judicial activities

2015 – District Court of Nicosia – President (District Court)

2013 – Assize Court of Nicosia – Senior District Judge

2010 – District Court of Limassol – Senior District Judge

2009 – District Court of Larnaca – District Judge

2006 – Assize Court of Nicosia – District Judge

2000 – District Court of Nicosia – District Judge

1997 – District Court of Larnaca – District Judge

b. Description of non-judicial activities

1994 – Chryssafinis and Polyviou Law Firm – Lawyer

1992 – Panayiotou and Pelekanos Law Firm – Lawyer

1991 – Panayiotou and Pelekanos Law Firm – Pupillage

c. Description of non-legal professional activities

None

IV. Activities and experience in the field of human rights

During my service as a District/Senior District Judge and my Assize Court appointment, I have dealt with various areas of law in different jurisdictions from which I have gained invaluable experience in serious criminal cases. Additionally, throughout my career I have dealt with many human rights issues, an area closely connected with my field of service. In deciding on these issues I have applied both binding national case law of the Supreme Court of Cyprus and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. I have also tried extradition cases which again involved and required my decision on various human rights issues by applying human rights International and European instruments.

Being in the EU I have a continuous interest in European Law, especially in its development and impact at national level, and also on the vital and developing issue of the cooperation between member States, an area in which human rights play a significant part. This is the main reason why I have completed two courses; both offered by the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and were introduced to me by the Supreme Court of Cyprus:

i. “Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters in Europe” and

ii. “The Judge in the European Judicial Area in Civil and Commercial Matters”.

Furthermore, I have participated in local and European conferences on human rights issues; on asylum law and political refugees. I have also been invited to give lectures and presentations on various legal issues with reference to national and European case law at Universities in Cyprus. In May 2014 I have been nominated by the Supreme Court of Cyprus and represented the judicial body on the panel of a Round Table meeting of the “Network to stop sexual violence against children” in Nicosia, Cyprus, organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Recently I have successfully participated in a Council of Europe Training of Trainers course on Human Rights and have been certified to provide training to legal professionals on the HELP platform.

V. Public activities

a. Public Office

Judicial office

b. Elected Posts

Junior and Senior School Board of Governors – Member (February 2009 – September 2011). In my personal capacity, I have also served as a member of the Junior and Senior School Board of Governors (February 2009 – September 2011). During that time I served as the Chairperson on the Senior School Committee as well as the Teachers’ Provident Fund Committee. This invaluable experience offered me an insider’s view on the establishment and development of a school to the highest academic standards. It has also helped me develop my leading, organisational and communication skills.

c. Posts held in a political party or movement

None

VI. Other activities

1. Field: Cyprus-based project “Strengthening national policies to stop sexual violence against children”, training for prosecutors, judges and defence lawyers on “Understanding and handling child victims of sexual violence”, organised by The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Duration: 2015 – ongoing

Functions: Representative of the Cyprus Judiciary, appointed by the Cyprus Supreme Court. Responsible to help organise a series of training seminars for various professionals in this field.

2. Field: Network to stop sexual violence against children, organised by The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Duration: May 2014

Functions: Panelist of the round table of the Network meeting.

VII. Publications and other works

Judgments and Decisions (more than 1.100 documents) currently on final edit to be published in 2016 in two Volumes.

Volume 1: Criminal

a. Private Criminal

b. Assize Court

c. Public Prosecutions

d. Traffic

Volume 2: Civil

a. Actions

b. Company Petitions

c. General Applications

d. Bankruptcy

e. Extradition

VIII. Languages

Greek – native

English – proficient (CEF equivalent C2)

French – independent user (CEF equivalent B1)

Language	Reading			Writing			Speaking
	Very good	Good	Fair	Very good	Good	Fair	Very good	Good	Fair
a. First Language: Greek	X			X			X
b. Official Languages:
English	X			X			X
French		X			X			X

IX. Second official language proficiency

I hereby confirm that I am a proficient user of the English language, one of the official languages of the Council of Europe, and I am an independent user in French, the other CoE official language. My intention is to follow intensive language classes to bring my French language skills to the CEF level C1 at the beginning of my term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.

X. Other relevant information

Red Cross Society – Member. As a young person, within my voluntary involvement with the Youth Section of the Red Cross (1992–1998) I have attended a seminar in Bonn – Germany (Summer 1993) entitled “Training for Trainers” thus increasing my awareness on trainers’ programs, their importance and necessity.

Europa Donna – Member

Participated in a number of national and international conferences

XI. Permanent residence in Strasbourg

I hereby confirm that I will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

Appendix 2 – Costakis PARASKEVA

(open)

CURRICULUM VITAE

I. Personal details

Surname, forename: Dr. Paraskeva Costakis

Sex: male

Date and place of birth: 16 June 1977, Larnaca, Cyprus

Nationality/ies: Cypriot

II. Education and academic and other qualifications

2004-2009 – PhD, London Metropolitan University (UK). The research involved a critical evaluation of “The relationship between the domestic implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the ongoing reforms of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)”.

2004 – Advocate-Admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association.

2002-2003 – LLM in European and International Law, London Metropolitan University (UK). Dissertation topic: “The effectiveness and the accessibility of the European Court of Human Rights”.

1997-2001 – LLB, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).

III. Relevant professional activities

a. Description of judicial activities

None

b. Description of non-judicial legal activities

2013-Present – Lecturer in Public Law, Faculty of law, University of Cyprus (Teaching subjects: European Convention on Human Rights, Fundamental Rights and Liberties, Administrative Law).

2011-Present – Member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe (CPT). Recently re-elected by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for another four-year term as the current member for Cyprus on the CPT until 2019.

2010-Present – Practising as a Sole Practitioner.

2010-2013 – Assistant Professor in Human Rights Law, Faculty of Law, University of Nicosia (Teaching subjects: European Convention on Human Rights, Constitutional Law, Fundamental Rights and Liberties).

2008-2010 – Cyprus based representative for The European Criminal Justice Project.

2008-2010 – Practising at Lellos Demetriades Law Firm.

2007-2008 – Research Assistant at Human Rights & Social Justice Research Institute of London Metropolitan University.

2007 – Study visitor at the Secretariat of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee (AS/Jur) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

c. Description of non-legal professional activities

2014-Present – Member of the technical committee on Citizenship- Asylum- Aliens to advise the government of the Republic of Cyprus in the context of the current negotiations.

2008-Present – Member of the Human Rights Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association.

2008-Present – Member of “Truth Now” (Non-Governmental Organization), which seeks to ascertain in every way the fate of missing persons in Cyprus during the period of inter-communal troubles (1963-1964) and during the Turkish invasion of 1974.

IV. Activities and experience in the field of human rights

European Convention on Human Rights: Costas Paraskeva as an expert on ECHR theory and practice was involved in all submissions to the Court and appeared as counsel for applicants in two Grand Chamber cases, Varnava v Turkey and Demopoulos and Others v Turkey. With reference to the latter, he has been particularly recognized for his contributions on the pilot judgment procedure.

In his own practice he represents clients in applications at the European Court of Human Rights raising amongst others issues under Articles 6, 8, and Article 1 of Protocol No.1 to the ECHR. He regularly advises clients and provides legal consultation on different aspects of ECHR litigation and potential violations of human rights.

European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: As an elected member of the European Committee of the Prevention on Torture (December 2011, re-elected July 2015), Costas Paraskeva participates in CPT delegations visiting places of detention in European member States, in order to assess how persons deprived of their liberty are treated and to ensure that inmates are not subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment. The CPT as a non-judicial preventive mechanism protects persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other forms of ill-treatment. It thus complements the judicial work of the European Court of Human Rights.

Domestic human rights law: As a practicing lawyer in the Republic of Cyprus, Costas Paraskeva appears before the Supreme Court in cases raising issues of violations of human rights as protected by Part II of the Constitution. In addition, as a great number of human rights matters fall within the supervisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court (Article 146 of the Constitution), Costas Paraskeva has expertise in administrative law and in pursuing administrative recourses before the Supreme Court.

Costas Paraskeva has taught courses on ECHR at London Metropolitan University (2007-2008) and since 2010 he has been lecturing on the ECHR system of protection of human rights in Cypriot Universities in both undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses. His areas of research are the European system of protection of human rights, the effective enforcement and implementation of human rights norms, and the right of access to justice and redress. With reference to the domestic legal system, his research focuses on Part II of the Constitution, “Fundamental Rights and Freedoms”, which incorporates the human rights and freedoms secured by ECHR and Protocol No. 1. He has recently published a textbook on Part II of the Cyprus Constitution, “Cyprus Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights and Liberties” (712 pages-in Greek), published by Nomiki Vivliothiki the leading publisher of legal texts in Greece. The book is a detailed study of Part II of the Cyprus Constitution (Articles 6-35) Fundamental Rights and Liberties, an analytical review of all the relevant jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of Cyprus and the ECtHR. It is a work that primarily concerns the protection of human rights and the relationship between those rights and the constitutional functions of the Republic of Cyprus.

He was the Cyprus based representative for The European Criminal Justice Project, which was carried out by the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) Centre. He worked as the research assistant on a project conducted within the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute entitled “International human rights and fact-finding: An analysis of fact-finding hearings and missions of the European Court (and Commission) of Human Rights”. During 2007, he was a study visitor at the Secretariat of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee (AS/Jur) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Costas Paraskeva has participated as an expert on ECHR in the 11th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights, on “National and Regional Human Rights Mechanisms”. He has completed the course Training for Trainers: Legal Aspects of Enforced Disappearances and attended the course on “The European System of Human Rights Protection”.

Costas Paraskeva has participated in numerous national and international academic conferences, expert seminars and workshops on the European Convention on Human Rights. His particular interest in the ongoing reforms of the ECtHR is illustrated by his participation in the following:

4th Warsaw Seminar: Concepts of General Domestic Remedy and Simplified Procedure for Amending the Convention in the post-Interlaken Process (9-10 September 2010).

High Level Conference on the “Future of the European Court of Human Rights” at the initiative of the Swiss Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. He participated as an ad-hoc advisor of the Republic of Cyprus, Interlaken, Switzerland, 18-19 February 2010.

Third Informal Seminar for Government Agents and Other Institutions on Pilot Judgment Procedure in the European Court of Human Rights and the Future Development of Human Rights’ Standards and Procedures, where he presented the paper on “The Application of the "Pilot Judgments Procedure" to the Post-Loizidou Cases – the Case of Xenides-Arestis”, Warsaw, Poland, 14–15 May 2009.

Colloquy organised under the Swedish chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. “Applying and Supervising the ECHR- Towards stronger implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights at national level”, Stockholm, Sweden, 9-10 June 2008.

V. Public activities

a. Public office

None

b. Elected posts

Member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe (CPT), 2011, 2015.

c. Posts held in a political party or movement

None

VI. Other activities

2010-Present – Cyprus Contact Point for European Criminal Law Academic Network (ECLAN). "ECLAN" is funded by the European Commission (AGIS Programme) and both the Ministries of Justice in Luxembourg and Belgium. The network's aim is to facilitate and strengthen research and academic education in the field of European criminal law.

VII. Publications and other works

Books:

Paraskeva, C., “Cyprus Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights and Liberties“, Nomiki Vivliothiki, Athens, 2015 (in Greek).

Paraskeva, C., “The Relationship Between the Domestic Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Ongoing Reforms of the European Court of Human Rights (With a Case Study on Cyprus and Turkey)”, Intersentia, Antwerp – Oxford – Portland, 2010.

Leach, P., & Paraskeva, C., & Uzelac, G., “International Human Rights & Fact-finding: An analysis of the fact-finding missions conducted by the European Commission and Court of Human Rights”, Report by the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute, London Metropolitan University, February 2009.

Articles:

Paraskeva, C. & Meleagrou, E. “Homes From the Past: An Expiration Date for the Right to Respect for Home Under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights”, Annuaire International des Droits de l'Homme (Vol. VII), 2012-2013, pp. 845-877.

Paraskeva, C., “The Execution of the Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the Greek Cypriot Property Cases”, “The Cyprus Problem in Development, International Dimension, Issues of Governance, Human Rights”, Foundation of International Legal Research Professor Elias Krispi and Dr. A. Samara-Krispi, 2011, Sakkoula Publishers, Athens-Thessaloniki, pp. 225-241 (In Greek).

Leach, P., & Paraskeva, C., & Uzelac, G., “Human Rights Fact-finding: The European Court of Human Rights at a Crossroads”, Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, Vol. 28, No. 1, 2010, pp. 41-77.

Paraskeva, C., “The Application of the ‘pilot judgments procedure’ to the post-Loizidou cases”, Annuaire International Des Droits De L’ Homme, Vol. IV, 2009, pp. 573-588.

Paraskeva, C., “The application of the "pilot judgments procedure" to the post-Loizidou cases – the case of Xenides-Arestis”, in “Third Informal Seminar for Government Agents and Other Institutions on Pilot Judgment Procedure in the European Court of Human Rights and the Future Development of Human Rights’ Standards and Procedures, Warsaw, 14–15 May 2009”, Kontrast, Warsaw 2009, pp. 99-107.

Paraskeva, C., “The Adoption of the Pilot Judgment Procedure by the European Court of Human Rights”, Revue Hellénique des droits de l’homme, 2009, Vol. 43, pp. 719-743 (In Greek).

Paraskeva, C., “Returning the Protection of Human Rights to Where They Belong, At Home”, The International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 12, No. 3, June 2008, pp. 415-448.

Paraskeva, C., “Reforming the European Court of Human Rights: An Ongoing Challenge”, Nordic Journal of International Law, Vol. 76, 2007, pp. 185-216.

Paraskeva, C., “Human Rights Protection Begins and Ends at Home: The ‘Pilot Judgment Procedure’ Developed by the European Court of Human Rights”, Human Rights Law Commentary, Volume 3, 2007 available at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/hrlc/publications/hrlc.php

VIII. Languages

Language	Reading			Writing			Speaking
	very good	good	fair	very good	good	fair	very good	good	fair
a. First language:
– Greek	X			X			X
b. Official languages:
– English	X			X			X
– French		X				X			X
c. Other languages:

IX. In the event that you do not meet the level of language proficiency required for the post of judge in an official language [the second], please confirm your intention to follow intensive language classes of the language concerned prior to, and if need be also at the beginning of, your term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.

I am fluent in English and confirm that if elected I undertake to continue intensive language classes to bring the standard of my written and spoken French up to the necessary level of proficiency.

X. Other relevant information

XI. Please confirm that you will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

I confirm that if elected I would take up permanent residence in Strasbourg.

Dr. Costakis Paraskeva, 1 December 2015

Appendix 3 – Georgios A. SERGHIDES

(open)

CURRICULUM VITAE

I. Personal details

Name, forename: George Serghides

Sex: male

Date and place of birth: 28 June 1955, Nicosia, Cyprus

Nationality: Cypriot (Greek)

II. Education and academic and other qualifications

Degrees (Holder of four Ph.D.’s in Law)

24 February 1978 – Degree in Law (First Class Honours)

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

21 November 1984 – Ph.D. in Law

University of Exeter, United Kingdom.

Field of Law: Private International Law (Conflict of Laws).

Title of Ph.D. thesis: “Internal and External Conflict of Laws in Regard to Family Relations in Cyprus”. (In English).

Supervised by Reader Antony J. E. Jaffey.

8 April 1998 – Ph.D. in Law (First Class Honours)

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

Field of Law: Comparative Administrative Law.

Title of Ph.D. thesis: “Set-off of Betterment of the Remainder Against the Value of the Land Compulsorily Taken under the Cyprus Law – With Comparisons to the Greek Law, the English Law, the American Law, the Canadian Law and the First Protocol of ECHR ”. (In Greek).

Supervised by Prof. Prodromos Dagtoglou.

22 May 2007 – Ph.D. in Law (First Class Honours)

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Field of Law: Comparative Family Law.

Title of Ph.D. thesis: “The Formation of the Grounds for Divorce under Cyprus Law with a Comparative Study of Greek and English Law”. (In Greek).

Supervised by Prof. Efie Kounougeri-Manoledaki.

20 May 2015 – Ph.D. in Law (First Class Honours)

Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.

Field of Law: Comparative Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Criminal Law.

Title of the Ph.D. thesis: “The Right of Life under Article 2 of ECHR and the Respective Constitutional Provisions in Cyprus and in Greece, With Reference to the Relevant Legislation and Case Law”. (In Greek).

Supervised by Prof. S. Minaides.

Other Education

Attendance and participation:

Numerous Legal and Judicial European and General International Seminars, Conferences, Meetings and Workshops, in my capacity as a liaison judge, or otherwise.

Courses on Anglo-Cypriot Legal Studies run by the Council of Legal Education (1985-1987) and of the University of Leicester (1988-1989), (obtaining also certificates of attendance).

Many other legal programs, series of lectures and courses in Cyprus and abroad.

Courses and Programs on Mediation and on Bicommunal Conflict Resolution, in Cyprus and U.S.A.

Presiding a session of a Seminar on “Mediation in Greece – European and National Legal System and Practice”, sponsored by the European Commission (Athens, 30/6/2012).

ΙII. Relevant professional activities

a. Description of Judicial and Other Related Activities

1 June 1990-10 January 1999 – Judge of the Family Court. (From 1/6/90, i.e. the date of the establishment of the Family Court, until 1/2/95 the establishment of the second Family Court, Judge in all districts of Cyprus. From 1/2/95 until 1/11/96, Judge in the districts of Nicosia, Kyrenia and Paphos and, from 1/11/96 until 10/1/99, Judge in the districts of Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta).

11 January 1999-until today – President of the Family Court. From 11/1/99 until 9/9/99, President of the districts of Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta, from 10/9/99 until 14/10/02, President of the districts of Limassol and Paphos, from 15/10/02 until 30/6/05, President of the districts of Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta, and from 1/7/05 until today, President of the districts of Nicosia and Kyrenia).

19 May 2000-until today – International Hague Network Judge. Liaison Judge for Cyprus, for the promotion of a Judicial Network for the international protection of children under the Hague Convention of 1980 (Abduction of Children). (Appointed by a decision of the Supreme Court).

14 November 2006-until today – Judicial Liaison – Contact Point for Cyprus in the European. Judicial Network on Civil and Commercial Matters (Appointed by a decision of the Supreme Court).

11 November 2013-until today – Judicial Liaison – Contact Point for Cyprus for Asylum Matters and for EASO’s co-operation (EASO is the European Asylum Support Office).

2007 – Elected by Cyprus Government as one of its three Candidates for the post of a Judge at the European Court of Human Rights.

2011 – Elected by a Special Committee appointed by the Council of Ministers as the Cyprus Candidate for the post of a Judge at the International Criminal Court.

2012 – A Cyprus expert on family law and succession law during the Cyprus Presidency in the European Union.

Since March 2012 – Cyprus family law expert for the purposes of the ERA’S Training Modules on European Family Law, submitting on 14/7/12 the Cyprus National Sections on Cross-Border Divorce and Maintenance and Parental Responsibility in a Cross-Border Context including Child Abduction. (ERA is the Academy of European Law, sponsored by the European Commission).

Since Jan. 2009 – Member of the International Association of Family Judges.

b. Description of Non-Judicial Legal Activities

8-10 October 1985 – Cyprus Bar Examinations (First Class Honours), scoring the highest mark, 960/1000.

1984-1985 – Trainee Advocate.

In 1985 – President of the Trainee Advocates.

11 December 1985-31 May 1990 – A practising Advocate. Partner with A. G. Serghides of Gray’s Inn Barrister (my deceased father), under the style of Serghides & Serghides. Appearances before all the Courts in Cyprus, including the Supreme Court, in all kinds of jurisdiction, civil, criminal, administrative, etc.

c. Description of Academic and Other Legal Activities

(i) Academic

October 1986-May 1990 – Head of the Law Department of Philips College (College of Higher Education in Cyprus). Teaching of:

a. the English Legal System,

b. the English Criminal Law (as part of program for the enrolment of law students in the second year in U.K. Universities), and

c. the English Company Law (for students taking courses on Accounting and Finance).

May 1985-until May 1990 – Secretary of the Cyprus Council of Legal Education (CLE)

(CLE was an Organ of the Bar Association of Nicosia), which ran programs of legal education, including a program of Anglo-Cypriot Legal Studies (postgraduate level – LLM) in collaboration with the University of Leicester.

Lecturer in Family Law.

Νovember 1999-until October 2004 – Lecturer in Family Law at the Cyprus Bar Council. Lectures to Trainee Advocates for the purpose of Cyprus Bar Examinations.

January 2000-until October 2004 – Examiner of the Cyprus Bar Council on the subject of Family Law, which was introduced as a subject in the Cyprus Bar Examinations in January 2000 for the first time.

Sept. 2009-Dec. 2012 – Adjunct Law Professor at the University of Cyprus, Law Department. Teaching of:

a. the Cyprus Family Law, and

b. the Cyprus Law of Succession.

First semester of 2014 (Febr.- June) Visiting Associate Law Professor at Frederick University, Law Department. Teaching of:

a. the Fundamental Human Rights and Liberties, and

b. the Greek Family Law.

In passim

Lectures/Speeches on Family Law, at local and international seminars and conferences, at the University of Cyprus, the University of Nicosia, the Welfare Office, the Bar Associations in Cyprus, the Athens Bar Association, U.N. Headquarters in New York and other venues.

In June 2012, presided a session on Mediation in Athens sponsored by the European Commission.

In December 2012, participated in at a panel discussion in U.N. Headquarters for the elections of ICC Judges.

(ii) Work Relating to Legislation

Member of the Committee for the preparation of a Bill on the subject of mediation, pursuant to the Council of Europe’s Recommendation, No. R. (98) 1.

Appointed in 1989 by the Cyprus Law Commissioner to make recommendations for the amendment of the chapter of the Cyprus Penal Code, dealing with general defenses to a criminal responsibility, which were submitted the same year and were published in 1992.

By a decision of the Supreme Court appointed a representative of the Judicial Authority in the House of Parliament for the enactment of various laws on family matters.

Participation in the preparation of a draft of procedural regulations for the application in Cyprus of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Member of the Committee working on the Law to ratify in Cyprus the European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights.

By a decision of the Supreme Court, since the 3rd of February 2006, a representative of the Judicial Authority in matters of Civil Law in the Working Groups and Committees of the European Council in Brussels on the enactment of European Regulations concerning family matters and succession law.

(iii) Participation in Committees

Vice President of the Committee of the United Nations Association of Cyprus.

Member of the Scientific Committee of the Cyprus and European Law Review.

Former member of many committees, including the Committee for the Restoration of Human Rights throughout Cyprus.

Former President of the Hellenic Association of the University of Exeter, U.K. (1979-1980).

IV. Activities and experience in the field of human rights

Visiting Associate Professor at Frederick University, Law Department on Fundamental Human Rights and Liberties (Febr.-June 2014). Also the Examiner of the subject. During the University Lectures, comparisons between the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Cyprus and the ECHR and its Protocols, regarding Fundamental Rights and Liberties, have been taught.

A Judge and the President of the Family Court for twenty five years dealing with all human rights relating to the field of the family law, such as: the right to respect for private and family life (including the right of access to a child and the rights of children), (art. 8 ECHR & art. 15 Const.), the right to marry and to found a family (art. 12 ECHR & art. 22 Const.), prohibition of discrimination (art. 14 ECHR, art. 1 Protocol No. 12 to ECHR & art. 28 Const.), right of equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses in their relations and in their relations with their children (art. 5 of Protocol No. 7 to ECHR & art. 28 Const.), the right of property or peaceful enjoyment of possessions (art. 1 Protocol 1 to ECHR & art. 23 Const), right to respect for one’s home (dwelling house is inviolable) (art. 8.1 ECHR, art. 16 Const.), the right of access to the competent court and the right for a fair trial (art. 6 ECHR & art. 30 Const.), freedom of thought, conscience and religion (art. 9 ECHR & arts. 6 and 18 Const.), right to education (art. 2 Protocol 1 to ECHR & art. 20 Const.).

An Advocate for five years specialized on property law, compulsory acquisition, street-widening and family law. Handled before the Cyprus Supreme Court and prepared before the Organs of Strasbourg Appl. No. 44730/98. In this case, the European Court of Human Rights had decided that there has been a violation of art.1 of Protocol 1 and so it awarded compensation to be paid by the Cyprus Republic to the applicant not only for pecuniary but also for non pecuniary damage for which she had suffered. The decision of the ECtHR is important for another reason, thus an applicant who was not told of land acquisition, he could not meet time limit. (See the Decision as to the Admissibility of the recourse dated 22/5/2001, the Judgment on the Merits dated 5/11/2002 and the Judgment on the Just Satisfaction dated 10/6/2003. See also Harris, O’ Boyle & Warbrick, Law of the Convention on Human Rights, 2nd edn., Oxford,. 2009, p. 238, n. 363).

A Ph.D. candidate on the right of life under Art. 2 of ECHR and the relevant case law of the then European Commission and the ECtHR, with comparisons to the relevant provisions of the Constitution and legislation of Cyprus and Greece. Dissertation almost completed. Consisting of more than one thousand pages. In the dissertation, discussion is also made on Protocols 6 and 13 to the ECHR, dealing respectively with the abolition of the death penalty in time of war and in all circumstances. Also discussion is made on many other relevant provisions of the ECHR, such as arts. 1, 3, 6, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 41, 46 and 53. Lastly, discussion is made on the right to a healthy environment.

A holder of a Ph.D. on compulsory acquisition, with comparisons, inter alia, made to the right of property guaranteed by article 1 of the 1st Protocol to ECHR. Emphasis is paid on the principle of proportionality.

A holder of other two Ph.D’s, in which a lot of fundamental rights have been examined, i.e. the right to marry and make a family, the right of equality of spouses, the rights of children, the freedom of religion and community, etc.

Joint Author and Εditor of a book on partial compulsory acquisition and urban environment, where the right of property and the right to a healthy environment are examined.

Main Author and Editor of a book on Pecuniary Relations of Spouses and Cohabitants & Miscellaneous Legal Topics, where a lot of human rights are examined.

Author of articles on human rights, such as a fair trial, right of property, freedom of religion, equality of sexes and spouses, etc.

Vice President of the Committee of the United Nations Association of Cyprus. One of the aims of the said Association is the peaceful co-existence of the two Communities (Greek and Turkish) and all the Religious Groups, in Cyprus.

V. Public activities

Gratis contribution:

Committees (see Part III, c (ii) & (iii)) above).

Liaison Judge (see Part III, a above).

Teaching at the Cyprus Bar Council, the Council of Legal Education and the University of Cyprus (see Part III, c (i) above).

Participation:

Charitable activities or donations (Telethon, Cyprus Antileukemia Society “Zoe”, Charitable and Missionary Society “Apostolos Varnavas”, Charitable Fraternity of Ayii Omoloyides).

Church activities and donations (Member of a Synodical Committee on Sects).

Building of a church by my family in 2005 in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) in the name of the saint Arsenios.

Opening of a well by my family in 2004 in Cameroon for the needs of the community.

Voluntary written commitment starting from the beginning of 2013, for deduction up to 20% of my monthly salary (including 13rd salary), for the benefit of the State, due to the economic crisis.

VI. Publications and other works

Editor of the series "Studia Juris Cyprii", consisting at the moment of 9 volumes. Author of 6 books, joint Author of 2 books and contributor in 5 other books. Many other publications.

Legal series entitled “Studia Juris Cyprii” (11 volumes)

G. A. Serghides ed. «Studies in Cyprus Law» ("Studia Juris Cyprii") – a series of publications. Nine volumes have been issued to date.

Further details of the above Studies׃

Volume no. 1 (pages 629), Study No. 1 (in English)׃ “Internal and External Conflict of Laws in Regard to Family Relations in Cyprus”, Nicosia, 1988. Author and editor׃ G. A. Serghides. With a foreword by the late President of the Supreme Court, A. N. Loizou.

Volume no. 2 (pages 281), Study No. 2 (in Greek)׃ “Immovable Property in Cyprus”, Nicosia, 1992. Author׃ N. C. Coutas. Editor׃ G. A. Serghides. With a foreword of the late Judge of the Supreme Court, I. Boyiadjis.

Volume no. 3 (pages 653), Study No. 3 (in English)׃ “Reflections on Partial Compulsory Acquisition and Urban Environment”, Nicosia, 1995. Joint Authors׃ C. Georgiades and G. A. Serghides. Editor׃ G. A. Serghides. With a foreword by Professor Prodromos Dagtoglou.

Volume no. 4 (pages 705), Study No. 4 (in Greek)׃ “Set-off of Betterment of the Remainder Against the Value of the Land Compulsorily Taken under the Cyprus Law – With Comparisons to the Greek Law, the English Law, the American Law, the Canadian Law and the First Protocol of ECHR ”, Nicosia, 1999. Author׃ G. A. Serghides. Editor׃ G. A. Serghides.

Volumes nos. 5 & 6 (pages 1546), Study No. 5 (in Greek)׃ “The Formation of the Grounds for Divorce under Cyprus Law with a Comparative Study of Greek and English Law, Nicosia, 2007. Author׃ G. A. Serghides. Editor׃ G. A. Serghides. With a foreword by Professor Efie Kounougeri-Manoledaki.

Volume no. 7 (pages 150) Study No. 6 (in Greek)׃ The Technique of Cross-Examination – The Golden Rules of Cross-Examination and Four Masters of Antiquity, two Greeks (Socrates and Aristotle) and two Latins (Cicero and Quintilian). Author׃ G. A. Serghides. Editor׃ G. A. Serghides. With a foreword by Dr. D. H. Hadjihambis, the Chief Justice of Cyprus and a former lecturer of Exeter University.

Volume no. 8 (pages 837), General Title of the Volume: “Advocacy and Cross-Examination” Study No. 7 (translation into Greek by V. Soteriou of an old treatise on the ”Study and Practice of the Law”, with an extensive introduction by G. A. Serghides), Study No. 8 “On the Art of Cross-Examination etc” (in English, Author G. A. Serghides). Editor G. A. Serghides.

Volume no. 9 (pages 761) General Title of the Volume: “Pecuniary Relations of Spouses and Cohabitants (Literature and First Instance Judgments) & Miscellaneous Legal Topics” Studies No. 9 & 10, containing judicial judgments on property relations of spouses and many articles on various legal topics, on family law, administrative law and criminal law, (some in Greek and some in English). Editor and main author G. A. Serghides. With the contribution of Professor Th. Papazissi.

Volumes nos. 10-11 (pages 1222) Study No. 11 (in Greek): “The Right of Life under Article 2 of ECHR and the Respective Constitutional Provisions in Cyprus and in Greece, With Reference to the Relevant Legislation and Case Law”.

A Separate Book on Cross-examination of Witnesses

A Cypriot and an American publication:

1. Part of the vol. 8 of the series Studia Juris Cyprii (pages 295) was also published separately in Nicosia, 2009 and is entitled “On the Art of Cross-Examination. Four Great Old Authorities, Two Englishmen and Two Americans, With Emphasis on Their Principles”.

2. A new edition of this book is published in paperback, in 2013, by the Lawbook Exchange Ltd, New Jersey, U.S. With a foreword by Dr. D. H. Hadjihambis, the Chief Justice of Cyprus and a former lecturer of Exeter University

Contribution in Books

1. G. A. Serghides, “General Defenses to a Criminal Responsibility, with Recommendations for the Amendment of the Cyprus Criminal Code”, published in Cyprus Law Commissioner, ed., the Revision of the Legislation in Cyprus 1987-1992”, Nicosia, 1992. (In Greek).

2. G. A. Serghides, “Violations of Constitutional Civil Liberties by Sects and Parareligious Groups” in: “Destructive Sects in the Light of Orthodoxy and their Legal Confrontation”, Limassol, 1996, pp. 243-271.(In Greek).

3. G. A. Serghides, “Religious Freedom, Use and Misuse” in: “Religious Freedom and Human Rights” Limassol, 2000 pp. 79-100. (In Greek).

4. G. A. Serghides, “The Institution of Mediation in Family Disputes, Necessity of its Establishment in Cyprus”, in Family Law in the 21st Century, ed. Th. Papachristou and E. Kounougeri-Manoledaki, Athens-Saloncia, 2012, pp. 91-118 (in Greek).

5. G. A. Serghides, Cyprus National Section in Family Law, published by ERA for the purposes of its legal seminars.

About thirty other Works and Publications

Ten articles are mentioned as requested ׃

1. G. A. Serghides, “The Components of a Fair Trial Before the International Criminal Court” (in English), in Revue Hellénique de Droit International, vol. 65 (2012), pp. 693-713. Also published in Cyprus Legal Tribune, year 22nd, first period, issue 1- 2012, pp. 32-55 and in The Cyprus Yearbook of International Law 2012, pp. 113-133.

2. G. A. Serghides, “Concentration of Jurisdiction in Cyprus Under the 1980 Hague Abduction Convention”, Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection, vol. XX/Summer-Αutumn, 2013, pp. 11-13. (Note: “Judges’ Newsletter” is a publication of the Hague Conference on Private International law).

3. G. A. Serghides, “The Voice of the Child in Hague Proceedings׃ a Cypriot Perspective”, in Judges’ Newsletter, vol, VI/Autumn 2003, pp. 39-44, (Both in English and in French, translation in French from English is made by the editors).

4. G. A. Serghides, “Religious Freedom under Article 9 of ECHR” in “Documentation”, 1998, issue 1, year 1, Jan.-June, pp. 8-11. (In Greek).

5. G. A. Serghides, “Property Relations of Spouses Under Cyprus Law”, in Family Law Review, 2014, year 5, issue 1, January-March 2014, Nicosia, Cyprus, pp. 6-22 (In Greek).

6. G. A. Serghides, “Grounds for Divorce under the Law of Cyprus׃ The Road to Europe”, in Paneuropean law Review, Jan.-Jun. 1997, vol. 1, no. 1 (edition of Philips College), pp. 31-43. (In English).

7. G. A. Serghides, “Cyprus Family Jurisdiction Ratione Personae and Ratione Materiae” in Family Law Review, 2011, Year 2nd, issue 2nd, April-June, 2011, Nicosia, Cyprus, pp. 4-17 (In English). Also in French “Compétences en Droit de la Famille à Chypre Ratione Personae et Ratione Materiae”, in: J. Rossetto and K. Agapioυ-Joséphides, (ed.), La Singularité de Chypre dans l’ Union Européenne – Diversité des Droits et de Statuts, Paris, 2012, pp. 323-342 (translation in French from English is made by the editors).

8. G. A. Serghides, “Reflections on the Cyprus Marriage Law of 2003” in Armenopoulos, year 58, May 2004, (a legal periodical issued by the Bar Association of Salonica), 661-678, as well as in Cyprus and European Law Review, year E, issue 1, June 2010, pp. 156-163. (In Greek).

9. G. A. Serghides, “Mixed Marriages in Cyprus” in Cyprus Law Tribune, Year 15, 2nd period, issue 2, 2005, May-August, pp.103-122. (In Greek).

10. G. A. Serghides, “Reflections on Juvenile Delinquency with Special Regard to Cyprus” in Cyprus Legal Tribune, year 14th, 2nd period, issue 2, 2004, pp. 38-48. (In English).

Numerous Judicial Judgments and Orders

Plethora of Judicial Judgments and Orders since 1990 in all Matters of Family Law, e.g. Divorce, Nullity of Marriage, Parental Control and Custody of Children, Determination of Right of Access, Maintenance of Children and Spouses, Property Relations of Spouses, Adoption of Children, Legitimation of Children and Recognition of Foreign Decrees.

VII. Other activities: hobbies and interests

Reading books and collecting of specialized legal books

Playing classical guitar

Painting

Jogging

VIII. Languages and knowledge of computers

Greek language: Read and speak (mother tongue)

English language. Read and speak (Ph.D. in Law in an English University)

French language: Studied in the past and willing to refresh and study further

IX. Two Required Confirmations

I confirm my intention to follow intensive French language classes prior to, and if need be also at the beginning of, my term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.

I confirm that I will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.

09/07/2014

Updated 1st/12/2015 (Dr. G. A. Serghides)