New York, United States. Cyprus MEP Loukas Fourlas handed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a European Parliament report documenting rape against women during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus on Tuesday. The handover took place during the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Report presented during UN session
Fourlas participated in the session as part of the European Parliament’s gender equality delegation. He met with Guterres and briefed him on the committee’s recent mission to Cyprus, which examined testimonies and evidence relating to women who suffered sexual violence during the invasion.
Calls for recognition and support
Fourlas called for greater international recognition of the crimes and stronger support for survivors. “The victims of the sexual violence of the invasion deserve justice, recognition and support from the international community,” he said.
Testimonies and documented accounts
The report includes testimonies and documented accounts describing acts of violence and abuse against Cypriot women during the conflict. Fourlas said the document highlights “one of the darkest and most traumatic aspects of the Cypriot tragedy” and urged the United Nations to help bring broader attention to the issue.
European Parliament resolution under preparation
Fourlas told Guterres that work is under way in the European Parliament to prepare a resolution addressing the issue. He said justice, historical memory and the acknowledgement of war crimes are essential conditions for reconciliation and lasting peace, adding that the victims’ testimonies “cannot be forgotten”.
What steps do you think international bodies should take to support survivors and preserve historical memory?