On 4 November 2016, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, gave opening remarks at a conference, Pathways towards Sustainable Peace - UNSC Res 1325, which focused on the important role of women in peace and security.

Organised by Ms. Magda Zenon of the Cyprus Women's Lobby and Ms. Sophia Papastavrou Faustmann of World Vision with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung - FES Cyprus (FES), the conference brought together activists from civil society, government and the international community. The keynote address was given by Ambassador Mara Marinaki, the European External Action Service's Principal Adviser on Gender and on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Other speakers included, among others, the Swedish Ambassador to Cyprus, H.E. Anna Olsson Vrang, Mr. Hubert Faustman from FES, Ms. Sabine Freizer from UN Women, Ms. Emine Colak and Ms. Erato Marcoullis.

Speaking at the conference, SRSG Spehar noted: "There is an important moment now for a gender perspective and for women’s concerns to be taken into account [in the ongoing negotiations]. As the talks continue to progress, draft constitutions will need to be written, new institutions will need to be structured and other elements will need to be prepared for a future united Cyprus. Your insights and input will be vital."

Image: SRSG Spehar (C) with Ambassador Marinaki (L) and UN Women's Sabine Freizer