A 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 was adopted on Wednesday by the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The resolution was approved by 575 votes in favour, 33 against and 43 abstentions. All Cypriot MEPs voted in favour. Rapporteur for the file is Greek MEP, Eleonora Meleti.
Rapes: Unspoken crimes
In the text, the European Parliament condemns in the strongest possible terms the military invasion by the Republic of Turkey and the ongoing illegal occupation of the Republic of Cyprus, which it describes as a serious violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, stability and EU-Turkey relations.
The resolution also condemns the consequences of the invasion for the women and girls of Cyprus, including conflict-related sexual violence, other forms of sexual exploitation, forced displacement, the separation of families and other violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
The European Parliament stresses that Turkey continues to bear responsibility under international law for violations committed during and after the 1974 invasion, including serious breaches of the Geneva Conventions. The resolution states that this responsibility entails an obligation to provide full reparation to the victims, including compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.
Resumption of negotiations
The parliament calls for the resumption of negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, from the point at which they were interrupted in Crans-Montana in 2017. It reaffirms that the solution to the Cyprus problem must be just, comprehensive, viable and democratic, within the UN framework and the EU acquis, on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
The resolution also includes a call on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus and to refrain from any unilateral action that would consolidate the permanent occupation of the island or alter the demographic balance.
Invisible suffering, agents of resistance
The European Parliament acknowledges the impact of the invasion and occupation on the women and girls of Cyprus, noting that their courage, strength and suffering often remain invisible or are not sufficiently recognised at European and international level. It also underlines that the women and girls of Cyprus have been agents of resistance, solidarity and peacebuilding.
The resolution recognises the initiative in Cyprus to erect a monument in Nicosia for women victims of sexual violence, as a place of collective memory and recognition.
At the same time, it calls on the Commission to increase financial support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, so that it can fully fulfil its mission of exhuming, identifying and returning the remains of missing persons to their relatives.
The resolution notes that financial assistance alone is not sufficient, due to the lack of full cooperation, limited access to military areas and archives, and obstruction, as stated, by Turkey and the illegal secessionist entity in the northern part of Cyprus.
Source: CNA
