Canada taps Cyprus expertise for migrant and repatriation efforts

Canada is leveraging Cyprus’s experience in managing migrant and refugee needs amid a surge in global displacement, Canadian Ambassador for Women, Peace, and Security Jacqueline O’Neill said Wednesday.

According to a report on AP, Canada is among a dozen countries that have signed agreements with Cyprus to temporarily host their citizens evacuated from conflict zones until repatriation is possible. This initiative comes amid rising concerns that the Israel-Hamas conflict could spread.

Cyprus previously assisted in repatriating nearly 60,000 individuals from Lebanon in 2006 and more recently evacuees from Sudan. O’Neill highlighted that her discussions with Cypriot officials offered critical insights into managing such operations, especially for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and unaccompanied minors. She emphasized the need for suitable facilities, specialized medical care, and separate accommodations for women during transit.

O’Neill also met with Cypriot women’s groups advocating for a larger role in resolving the island’s longstanding ethnic division, a legacy of the Turkish invasion following a coup aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece. She noted that peace agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years when women are involved in negotiations.

“Communities are comprised of 50% women. Decision-making should reflect that balance,” O’Neill told the Associated Press. She argued that while women are not inherently more peaceful, their diverse perspectives enhance decision-making processes due to their experiences in family and community roles.

 [Information sourced from AP]