MEP Eleonora Meleti, on behalf of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, has submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission seeking recognition and action on documented sexual violence, rape, torture and other crimes committed by Turkish forces against women and girls during the 1974 invasion of Cyprus. The question, dated 3 June 2026, calls on the Commission to address the lasting consequences of these events for gender equality in Cyprus, which remains a divided EU member state.
The question references findings by the Council of Europe and other bodies that documented grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including sexual violence, enforced displacement and torture. Meleti highlights that survivors faced deep trauma, social stigma and lack of access to medical, psychological and legal assistance, with intergenerational effects on education, employment and social participation. She asks the Commission to assess these violations as serious breaches of international law, particularly given that the affected territory is now part of the EU.
The MEP's three specific queries seek the Commission's position on the documented crimes, an assessment of their lasting impact on Cypriot women and girls, and measures to ensure full participation of women in peace processes. The question implies a call for official recognition, accountability for perpetrators, and comprehensive support for victims.
As a parliamentary question, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the EU executive's stance on historical human rights violations in a member state and its willingness to address gender-based crimes from past conflicts. The question targets EU institutions, Cypriot authorities, and civil society organisations advocating for transitional justice and gender equality.