Cabinet backs UN resolution on women, peace and security

Cabinet on Tuesday approved the first five-year resolution by the UN security council devoted to women rights and their protection against gender-based violence during armed conflict.

The national action plan will be implemented for the years 2021 to 2025.

The UNSC resolution 1325 entitled Women, Peace and Security (WPS) adopted by Cyprus is the first time the UN security council has focused exclusively on women who are directly affected by armed warfare.

The foreign ministry said the resolution is an integral part if its policy, strengthening women’s rights and promoting gender equality through exercising foreign policy and the establishment of relevant collaborations with other states.

Its main objective is to recognise the disproportionate and unprecedented consequences of armed conflict on women and the use of their experiences in conflict prevention and resolution as well as in the preservation of peace.

Under the plan, Cyprus is committed to undertaking the four pillars of action including the enhancement of the participation of women in political decision making; the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence including rape during armed warfare; conflict prevention which includes gender violence as well as sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls during war; and to promote the resolution and to raise awareness among the general public with emphasis on rural areas.

The approval follows an initiative of the commissioner for gender equality Iosiphina Antoniou’s office in cooperation with the ministry of foreign affairs and in coordination with the relevant ministries and services.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the resolution by the United Nations.

In the context of the anniversary, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres organised a virtual roundtable discussion where a local NGO represented Cyprus, along with another three female leaders from Mali, Central African Republic and Darfur.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.