CYPRUS
The first NAP for the Republic of Cyprus covers the period 2021-2025. A preliminary draft was published in 2019 to cover 2020-2024. However, the final version of the NAP was not published until 2021 to cover the extended period 2021-2025. This is currently only available in Greek at: Cyprus National Action Plan 1325.pdf (mfa.gov.cy), but it has been translated unofficially into English by Google Machine Translate, and this version covering 2021-2025 is at: Cyprus-NAP-2-2021-2025_greek_ENG-translation-Google-Translate.pdf (wpsnaps.org)
The following notes reflect the English Google translated version for 2021-2025, but a note is made if there is significant divergence from the official translation of the preliminary draft covering 2020-2024.
Objectives of the Cyprus WPS NAP 2021-2025
The Republic of Cyprus respects the principles and values of the European Union (EU) and is committed to the objectives of 2030 Sustainable Development which create a stable connection between peace, respect of human rights, financial development, participatory governance and institutions and, mainly, gender equality. Ensuring the national peace and security, resolving disputes by peaceful means and promoting reconciliation have been flagship objectives of the Republic of Cyprus over time.
The objectives are based on the four pillars of UN Resolution 1325:
1: Participation and Empowerment
- Strengthening the active participation of women in political decision-making positions so that women participate proportionally in conflict prevention, building and maintaining peace.
2. Protection
- Strengthening the protection of women and girls in war and conflict from gender based violence and sexual abuse.
3. Prevention
- Preventing conflicts, including gender-based violence as well as sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls during conflict.
4. Promotion and Information about UN Resolution 1325
- Informing and raising awareness of civil society about Resolution 1325 in our country with special emphasis on rural areas.
Commentary
As a result of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974, 36.2% of the Republic of Cyprus territory is under Turkish military occupation, while 160,000 Cypriot citizens, i.e. a third of the population, have been violently forced to abandon their homes and have been living as refugees for 45 years now. The gravest obstacle concerning the implementation of human rights for the Cypriot people remains the continuing illegal occupation of over one third of the Cypriot territory since 1974. The United Nations (UN) Council of Human Rights investigates the violations of human rights in Cyprus on an annual basis and is included in the annual Report by the UN Human Rights’ High Commissioner. The case-law of the European Court of Justice for Human Rights clearly states that Turkey, as the occupying power, is held accountable for the violations of human rights in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus.
The government of the Republic of Cyprus, therefore, is in no position to apply the policies and rules of compliance with the Treaties of Human Rights, or to safeguard human rights in areas of the Republic of Cyprus which are beyond its effective control. In most cases, women were not involved in inciting historical conflicts, yet they have suffered and continue to experience the most devastating consequences following these conflicts. Women have also undertaken the burden to restore social communities and societies after conflict.
Civil Society’s involvement in the development of the NAP
The NAP was drawn up in cooperation with all relevant government departments, women’s organisations and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions and human rights bodies. Comments included in Cyprus’s CEDAW report (2019) were taken into consideration, as well as those by the UN Secretary General referring to Cyprus in relation to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
Initially, the Commissioner of the Institution of Gender Equality informed all relevant Ministries/Departments, NGOs, political parties and unions, as well as civil society in general, about the start of procedures to prepare the National Action Plan. At the same time they were invited to actively participate in, and contribute to, its development. After completion of the first draft in an open procedure, the final draft was published for further broad public consultation. During the consultation process, all opinions and proposals were recorded, processed and included in the draft.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics:
According to UN data for May 2023 Cyprus provided two staff officers to peacekeeping missions, both of which were male.
Women in Peacekeeping
The Republic of Cyprus believes the proper implementation of UN Resolution 1325 and subsequent relevant resolutions cannot be achieved in isolation. The effective participation of women in peace procedures is a powerful process aimed at women’s integration and equality. Effective participation is particularly important within the security sector which is a markedly male preserve.
Cyprus’ WPS NAP commits the government to consistently providing gender analysis, and monitoring/evaluation of implementation on grounds of gender, to ensure accountability, transparency and implementation of 1325 and its objectives.
Sources and References:
Cyprus WPS NAP 2021-2025 (final) is in Greek only at: Cyprus National Action Plan 1325.pdf (mfa.gov.cy) but there is an unofficial Google translation into English of this final version at:
WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY (gnwp.org)
Troop and police contributors | United Nations Peacekeeping (UN data May 2023)
05-Missions Detailed By Country Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country and Personnel Type (May 2023)
operational effect and women peacekeepers (un.org) (UN data March 2023)
