In a watershed moment for European justice and international law, the FEMM Committee has overwhelmingly passed a resolution confronting the profound, intergenerational trauma inflicted by the 1974 Turkish invasion. Demanding full military withdrawal, financial reparations, and a formal institutional voice for survivors of sexual violence, Brussels delivers a fierce ultimatum to Ankara after five decades of silence. Here is the fast-forward breakdown.

A draft Resolution on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on the women and girls of Cyprus, condemning the illegal occupation and calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, was adopted on Wednesday by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament.

The text was adopted with 28 votes in favour, 4 against and one abstention, and also includes a call for accountability, reparations, support for survivors, and meaningful participation of women in peace processes.

According to the draft Resolution, MEPs condemn the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation, as well as crimes attributed to Turkish forces, highlighting the long-term consequences for women and girls in Cyprus.

It refers also to conflict-related sexual violence, forced displacement, family separation, psychological trauma, stigma, and long-term socio-economic impacts that persist over time.

The text condemns the use of sexual violence as a weapon, describing it as a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions, and calls for recognition, accountability, and comprehensive support for survivors and their families.

Rapporteur Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greece) said "the Cyprus issue is inseparable from the principles of international law and European values," adding that with this resolution "we are delivering on that promise ensuring that the suffering and resilience of Cypriot women and girls is finally recognised at European level."

Cypriot MEP (DISY, EPP), Loucas Fourlas, stressed that "today is a historic day for Cyprus, a day of vindication for the hundreds of women, mothers, grandmothers and sisters who were raped by the Turkish army in 1974."

After the vote, rapporteur Eleonora Meleti said that "following the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee mission to Cyprus last year, we made a commitment to listen to survivors and bring their voices into the heart of European action."

"The Cyprus issue is inseparable from the principles of international law and European values," she stressed. Today, with this resolution, she added, "we are delivering on that promise ensuring that the suffering and resilience of Cypriot women and girls is finally recognised at European level."

In related statements, Cypriot MEP (DISY, EPP), Loucas Fourlas, stressed that "today is a historic day for Cyprus, a day of vindication for the hundreds of women, mothers, grandmothers and sisters who were raped by the Turkish army in 1974."

He added that the European Union “does not forget,” underlining that the responsible must be held accountable even decades later. He stated that through the resolution, the women of 1974 have been vindicated. “Those who were raped, those who were abused by the Turkish army,” he said.

He referred to a commitment made the previous year, which, as he noted, is now being fulfilled. The MEP also stated that Turkey, even 51 years later, must pay.

At the same time, MEPs call for strengthened EU support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, as well as for victim support services such as psychosocial care, trauma-informed counselling, and programmes addressing intergenerational trauma.

The draft resolution also foresees the full, equal and meaningful participation of Cypriot women in all peace processes, as well as reparations measures.

It expresses support for the initiative to erect a monument in Nicosia in honour of women victims of sexual violence, as well as for the formal recognition of victims’ testimonies.

In the same context, they call for the resumption of talks on the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from the island. The MEPs reiterate that the solution must be fair, comprehensive, sustainable and democratic, based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as provided for in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

In addition, it supports the organisation of a high-level public hearing with the participation of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from around the world, and in particular from Cyprus, representatives of civil society, women’s organisations and experts in international criminal law, with the aim of formally recognising their testimonies and experiences within the institutional framework of the European Union and highlighting the gravity of the 1974 Turkish invasion.

It is noted that the draft resolution will be submitted for debate and vote at a forthcoming plenary session of the European Parliament.

Source:  CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)