The 2012 Social Watch Report was launched recently and included the Cyprus Annual Report, which was prepared by CARDET. CARDET is the official representative of the European and the International Social Watch Network in Cyprus, contributing annual reports on issues like social rights, migrants, education, development, and poverty eradication.

For the 2012 report, CARDET focused its analysis on the concept of “sustainable schools”. CARDET argues that educational systems are key factors in sustainable development. Despite Cyprus’ efforts in promoting “environmental education” in the last decade of the 20th century, the absence of adequate planning and implementation has relegated these ideas to the margins of the educational system. In fact, many advances achieved in this area over the last few years have been initiated by the country’s non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, CARDET states that in order for Cyprus to promote sustainable development in all fields of its society, it must accelerate the expansion of “sustainable schools” and broaden civil society participation in the process. The Social Watch Report 2012, including the Cyprus Report, can be accessed here.