Cypriot women issue message for the reunification of the island!

A bi-communal march was simultaneously held in the north and south of Lefkoşa in line with March 8, International Women's Day. Turkish and Greek Cypriot unions and women's organizations marched on both sides of the island and met at the buffer zone.

In the Joint Declaration prepared by the Cypriot women, they gave the message of struggle for “Reunification – Equality – Solidarity”. More than 40 organizations, including political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organizations from the north, participated in the march. Several deputies from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) also took part in the event.

"Bi-zonal and bi-communal federation is the only solution model”

The women expressed their solidarity with the people of Türkiye, Syria and Greece due to the devastating earthquakes they experienced and the tragedy of the train accident in Greece, and expressed their support to the families of Cypriots who lost their loved ones in the last two tragedies.

In line with the symbol of women’s struggle, honoured today, Cypriot women issued a joint Declaration of women and trade movements:

“The messages of our struggle are still alive, guiding and useful in our daily struggle to improve conditions, to enable every woman and every person, LGBTI+ people to live, work and create a peaceful environment without discrimination and inequality.”

“At the same time, we demand that efforts are carried out to resume meaningful negotiations within the agreed framework to reach a solution for the reunification of our country. We underline that the solution of a bi-zonal bicommunal federation, with political equality and a single sovereignty, single citizenship and international identity, as stated in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, is the only way to reunify Cyprus. We reiterate that the solution to be reached must ensure that the rights of the two communities are respected and that the human rights of all Cypriots are guaranteed. Today, once again, we call on the two leaders to continue the talks, from where they left off, with enthusiasm and determination, preserving the rapprochement reached at the Crans Montana Conference under the framework of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. On this occasion, we remind both leaders of the role that women can and should play in the effort to resolve the Cyprus problem. We demand that we actively participate in all levels and decision-making stages of the peace process, as well as include the gender dimension in the negotiations.”