European Parliament debates resolution on sexual violence during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Greek MEP Eleonora Meleti presented a report to the European Parliament regarding systematic sexual violence against women and girls during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The report follows a fact-finding mission where survivors broke a 51-year silence to share accounts of rape, torture, and social stigmatization. Historical data cited in the proceedings suggests over 1,000 Greek Cypriot women were subjected to systematic violence by Turkish forces. A 1976 report by the European Commission of Human Rights previously concluded that these acts constituted inhuman treatment in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Parliament's Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality recently adopted a resolution with 28 votes in favor, four against, and one abstention. This resolution calls for accountability for perpetrators, support for survivors, and the inclusion of women in peace processes. A formal vote on the resolution is scheduled for Wednesday in Strasbourg. Turkey has been held legally responsible by the European Court of Human Rights for various human rights violations on the island since 2001.