The Cyprus Third Age Observatory receives the Human Rights Award for 2025

The Cyprus Third Age Observatory (CTAO) has been selected as the recipient of the "Stella Souliotis" Human Rights Award for 2025, awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recognising its sustained contribution to safeguarding the rights of older persons over the past decade. 

Receiving the award, Executive Chairman Demos Antoniou stressed that the recognition is not merely symbolic, but a call to action on rights, dignity, and equality for older people. "This decision is not just an honorary acknowledgement; it sends a powerful message that dignity, equality, and respect for older individuals are fundamental human rights issues. Human rights have no age. They do not end when someone retires." 

Antoniou highlighted that many older people experience loneliness, exclusion, age discrimination, fear, neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation, and that these realities must be addressed openly and consistently. "Today, we do not view this award as an end goal but as a commitment… to uphold every individual's right to age with dignity, safety, and participation." "This award strengthens our ethical responsibility to listen first, to safeguard older people from harm, and to insist that no one becomes invisible with age. A society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable—and its wisest."

CTAO dedicated the award to the older people of Cyprus, "to our parents, our grandfathers, and our grandmothers." 

The 2025 Award Assessment Committee, comprised of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Chair), the Minister of Justice and Public Order, and the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights (ex officio), plus the two additional members for 2025, Dr Marios Cariolou and Mr Michael Vorkas, selected CTAO as the 2025 recipient.

The "Stella Souliotis" Human Rights Award was established in 2021 to honour the legacy of Ms Stella Souliotis and to recognise outstanding contributions to human rights in the Republic of Cyprus. 

The award ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.