Source: CNA
Sexual violence from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 "remains an open wound of the Cypriot society,” Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michail told the UN Security Council, calling, among other things, for strengthened legal procedures at national, regional and international levels “to ensure criminal accountability for perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence”.
Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN was speaking during a Security Council debate on conflict-related sexual violence.
“Allow me to express our sincere appreciation to the Republic of Panama for organizing this important debate,” she noted, while also thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Pramila Patten, “for her insightful presentation” and reaffirming that Cyprus “fully supports her mandate.”
Ambassador Michail stressed that “we are appalled by the sharp rise of conflict-related sexual violence and the severity and brutality of recorded cases,” as highlighted in the recent report of the Secretary-General. She emphasized that “Cyprus strongly condemns gender-based violence in all its forms and manifestations, online and offline, including all acts of sexual violence during armed conflicts.”
She underlined that “despite the adoption of landmark resolutions 1325 and 1820, in conflict-affected regions around the world, conflict-related sexual violence is still used as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression.” Such violence, she said, is “an abhorrent crime, neither incidental nor isolated, but a manifestation of entrenched historical inequalities and patriarchal power structures.” She recalled that rape and other forms of sexual violence “may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or acts of genocide under international law.”
She described sexual violence as “a peace and security issue and an impediment to sustainable peace,” requiring “targeted operational and policy responses.” She pointed out that victims “are not a homogeneous group,” since they have different experiences and needs that the international community must take into account, “including the trauma of their families.” She highlighted the importance of guaranteeing access to services, “including sexual and reproductive health care, psychosocial support and legal assistance.”
“The era of impunity of perpetrators of these atrocities must end once and for all,” she stressed.
She called for strengthened legal procedures at national, regional and international levels “to ensure criminal accountability for perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence” and demanded “equal protection under the law and equal access to justice for victims.” As she added, “prosecution and accountability are key to ensuring long-lasting peace.”
At the same time, she stressed the need for women’s meaningful participation in peace and security decision-making structures. “Although women and girls are disproportionately affected by sexual violence in conflict, they remain underrepresented,” she noted, urging “concrete measures to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women.”
Ambassador Michail recalled that “Cyprus, as a victim of foreign military invasion and ongoing foreign military occupation for five decades now, has endured the horrors of conflict-related sexual violence.” She said that sexual violence “remains an open wound of the Cypriot society,” noting that most victims of rape and sexual violence “have been suffering in silence all these years, while the occupying power never brought to justice the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes.”
Concluding her remarks, the ambassador stressed that “it is imperative to address the root causes of sexual violence in conflict settings and of gender-based violence.”
She reaffirmed that “Cyprus is committed to working with the international community to strengthen the global response to conflict-related sexual violence, adopt a survivor-centered approach, while at the same time ensure justice and accountability for all victims and survivors.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
