Strasbourg, France. The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling for accountability for perpetrators and support for survivors of sexual violence committed during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Greek MEP Eleonora Meleti said the vote marked a significant step in recognising victims who have carried their trauma for decades.
Press conference after vote
Meleti, a member of the European People’s Party, spoke at a press conference in Strasbourg following the vote, highlighting the significance of the resolution and the importance of acknowledging the experiences of survivors.
How the initiative began
She said the initiative started after MEP Loucas Fourlas, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, approached her with the idea of organising a mission to Cyprus to meet women who survived sexual violence during the 1974 invasion.
Meleti said the proposal was important not only from a historical and political perspective but also on a human level.
Initial rejection
According to Meleti, the effort faced obstacles at the outset. She said the proposal was initially rejected by most political groups, which argued that there was no point in discussing events that took place 51 years ago.
Gender perspective
Meleti said the adoption of the resolution represented a significant milestone because it addressed the events of 1974 through a gender perspective.
She said the vote approached the Turkish invasion through a gender perspective for the first time.
Meetings with survivors
Meleti said the European Parliament delegation’s visit to Cyprus had a profound impact, as members met women who had carried their trauma in silence for decades.
She said some survivors shared their experiences despite fear, and that some had never disclosed their trauma even to their own families. She added that their suffering continued after the violence through stigma, marginalisation and social rejection.
Recognition and commitment
Meleti said the resolution could not undo the suffering of victims but represented an important act of recognition and political commitment.
