Famagusta, 22 March 2017 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Cyprus, Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, today participated in a workshop titled “Women’s Political Decision-Making in Cyprus: Achievements and Challenges” hosted by the Eastern Mediterranean University's Centre for Women’s Studies.

During her Keynote address, the SRSG expressed encouragement regarding the robust engagement of civil society across the island towards gender equality and empowerment and stated that ”the struggle to realize women’s involvement in political decision-making and peacemaking has made great strides over the past several decades - this hasn’t happened by accident; it has taken passion, courage and determination, but it has also taken expertise, lobbying and organization, and there is no shortage of any of these qualities in Cyprus."