The Government will remain firmly committed to the goal of combating the phenomenon of violence in conditions of war, said Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, addressing the event "Rape as a weapon of war: The case of Cyprus and the International Legal Aspect" on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

According to UN data, 3,688 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded in 2023, reflecting a dramatic increase of 50%, compared to the previous year. "In 95% of cases the victims were women or girls and in 5% men or boys," she said, noting that the report includes only reported cases of violence and does not reflect the true picture, since thousands of cases remain unknown.

"The above UN figures demonstrate the urgent need for mobilisation and coordinated action around the world, both to prevent violence and to effectively manage cases where it occurs," she added.

"For our country, which has its own tragic experience of violence as a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974, it is our duty and obligation to contribute to the international effort to eradicate the phenomenon," Christodoulou said.

She noted that "incorporating the gender perspective into the 1974 invasion we must admit that women's stories and testimonies have been silenced by our entire socio-political system," adding that "women were victims of rape and sexual violence, victimised again by society, which punished them with exclusion and discrimination."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island's northern third.

The Commissioner added that Cyprus, as a victim, has an obligation to contribute to the implementation of relevant resolutions as well as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace and Security".

Next month, Christodoulou said, the training of "frontline" officers begins in the context of the procedures for hosting people in need of protection, with the aim of raising their awareness on issues of dealing with incidents of violence.

Concluding, Christodoulou conveyed the assurance of the President of the Republic that the Government will remain firmly committed to the goal of combating the phenomenon of violence in conditions of war, as she considers that this is not only a criminal, traumatic behavior on an individual level of the victims, but also a disgrace for modern global society.