Nicosia: The intention of the European Parliament’s FEMM Committee is for the victims of the 1974 sexual violence in Cyprus to share their stories without stigma and prejudice, to give time and space to the wounds to heal and to push for a resolution in the European Parliament that recognises sexual violence as a weapon of war, said the Chair of the FEMM Committee delegation, Greek MEP Eleonora Meleti.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Meleti and members of the delegation visiting Cyprus held a press conference at the EU House on Wednesday as part of their visit to Cyprus. It is estimated that in 1974 up to 1,500 women and girls were victims of sexual violence, rapes, and tortures during the illegal Turkish invasion of the island. The FEMM delegation met on Tuesday with victims who shared their stories. Meleti described this as the most shocking moment of the visit, stating, “We all broke down the same way about what we heard yesterday.”
The initiative for the visit was taken by MEP Loukas Fourlas and became possible after complex, difficult, and demanding negotiations, as Eleonora Meleti mentioned during the press conference. She noted there were reactions and many questioned the necessity of addressing an issue that happened 51 years ago and relates to only a small part of the population. “The women opened their hearts to us in a chat that was emotionally charging. These were difficult times, they described to us the horrible torture they suffered, some of them were minors at the time,” she added.
Meleti emphasized that they will return to the EP and prepare a report, pushing for a resolution. “If this is not possible, the effort continues, we will continue, we will not stop, with various actions and initiatives to keep the issue in the spotlight,” she affirmed. Additionally, she highlighted their meeting with the House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou, who will advocate for a monument to be erected for these women, aiding in the documentation of historical events and preserving the narrative for future generations.
Responding to inquiries, Meleti conveyed that the women at the meeting did not request anything. “These women lost everything, they have nothing left to lose. They were stigmatised, marginalised, excluded, experienced racism, some left Cyprus, went to other countries to live without humiliation and guilt, they did not have access to their husbands’ assets, they were condemned to wear black their whole lives, they underwent hymenorrhaphy,” she explained.
She stressed that the mission had no political color and all participants experienced the same emotions that will be recorded in the report. Meleti also noted that while some benefits are provided by the state, the essential assistance would be their societal inclusion and encouraging them to speak without remorse and stigma. She referred to the collective responsibility society holds towards these women and the need for horizontal initiatives.
MEPs Loucas Fourlas and George Georgiou expressed gratitude to their colleague for her efforts in making the mission to Cyprus possible. “The struggle now begins. And we will not stop if we do not do justice to these women, the responsibility we have towards them is enormous,” stated Fourlas. Georgiou echoed the sentiment, describing the experience as both shocking and liberating.
The visit from 26 to 28 May included meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament Annita Demetriou, Aliki Hadjigeorgiou, Natasha Frederikou, Rita Karatza from the ZOE vs War Violence Foundation, POGO Secretary General Skevi Koukouma, Commissioner Josie Christodoulou, and researcher-author Chrysanthos Chrysanthou. According to figures published previously, it is estimated that between 800 and 1,500 women were victims during the Turkish invasion, with only 80 receiving state benefits. Men were also victims of rape during the invasion.