Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot women have sent the two leaders, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, a declaration expressing their full support for the peace process and the forthcoming phase of negotiations in Geneva and seeking for women to be included in the negotiating teams.
The declaration, which was forwarded to the two leaders this weekend and will continue to be available for signature, “was the collective result of an initiative of Cypriot women`s organizations and individuals of civil society from all communities of the country and has been signed by a number of women`s organizations and members of civil society.”
The declaration demands that “women be included in the negotiations and the drafting of the federal and constituent states’ constitutions.” Among others it asks that “more is done in terms of education in gender equality in the public school system with emphasis on deconstructing stereotypes and eliminating gender-based violence as well as promoting peace education including conflict resolution and reconciliation, elimination of violence and deconstruction of military images and mentality.”
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
The leaders of the two communities, namely President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof. They are set to meet in Geneva on January 9 to 11, and a conference with the participation of the guarantor powers is scheduled to begin on January 12.