The adoption by the European Parliament plenary of the resolution on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on the women and girls of Cyprus is an important moment of an historical vindication, Commissioner for Gender Equality Josie Christodoulou, has stressed.
Trauma cannot be silenced
In a written statement, following the adoption of the resolution on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on the women and girls of Cyprus, the crimes committed by Turkish forces and the consequences for gender equality, the Commissioner noted that fifty-two years later, Europe clearly recognises that the women and girls of Cyprus have been victims of serious human rights violations and that the consequences of the invasion and the ongoing occupation continue to affect the lives of thousands of people and that sexual violence, displacement, loss of loved ones and lasting trauma cannot be forgotten or silenced.
The resolution, she underlined, sends a strong message that the gender dimension of conflicts must be recognised, recorded and addressed through policies that promote justice, accountability and support.
Moreover, she added, the resolution constitutes a commitment that justice, equality and protection of women affected by conflicts will remain at the heart of European policies and that the voice of the women of Cyprus will continue to be heard until final vindication.
Truth will not be forgotten
She also expressed his "immense appreciation for the women victims of violence during the Turkish invasion of 1974", adding that "whether they found the strength to bravely testify or kept their pain silent for decades, they all carry an unbearable personal trauma that deserves our absolute respect."
"Those who spoke contributed decisively to highlighting the truth, preserving historical memory and recognising the crimes they suffered, while the silence or silencing of those who could not or did not choose to speak does not diminish at all the magnitude of their ordeal. We owe them all deep gratitude, respect and the commitment that the truth will not be forgotten," she stressed.
The Commissioner expressed her gratitude to the rapporteur of the resolution, Greek MEP Eleonora Meleti, Cypriot MEP Loukas Fourlas and to all members of the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and to the MEPs who voted in favour of this important initiative.
Concluding, she thanked the civil society organisations and women's organisations, "who worked with dedication and absolute respect for the victims to collect and document the testimonies, contributing decisively to highlighting this important aspect of the Cyprus tragedy. Their persistent and systematic action was decisive in ensuring that the voice of the victims reached the European institutions and that today's recognition was made possible".
Source: CNA
