On 1 July 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and its lasting impact on women and girls, calling for recognition, reparations, and justice for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The resolution, tabled by rapporteur Eleonora Meleti on behalf of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), follows a FEMM mission to Nicosia from 26-28 May 2025. It condemns Türkiye's invasion and ongoing 52-year occupation as a serious breach of international law, citing systematic gender-based violence including rape, forced displacement, and torture. The text notes an estimated 700-1,500 victims of sexual violence, with many survivors facing stigma, trauma, and lack of institutional support. The Parliament calls for full reparations (restitution, rehabilitation, compensation) from Türkiye under international law, including the Geneva Conventions. It urges the resumption of UN-led reunification talks from the 2017 Crans-Montana point, based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation. The resolution supports the construction of a Monument to Women Victims of Sexual Violence in Nicosia and EU-wide awareness-raising. It calls on the European Commission to fund victim-centred services, document testimonies, and support the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus. The Parliament demands that Türkiye withdraw its troops, recognise crimes against Cypriot women, and provide reparations, while urging the EU to fund memorials, psychosocial support, and peacebuilding with full women's participation.
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