The Gender Equality Technical Committee (GETC) on the occasion of the International Women’s Day joins in celebration with millions of women around the globe who have been struggling across time and space against all forms of discrimination, exclusion, marginalization, violence and for equal rights and opportunities for all.

The establishment by the two Cypriot leaders of the Gender Equality Technical Committee last year is a significant realization of the gendered aspect of the Cyprus problem. The Committee will strive for the inclusion of gender equality provisions in all the issues under negotiations as well as in the future federal constitution. According to the United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) women should be active participants not only at the negotiating table but also in the post-conflict peace building processes.

As the peace negotiations are underway, the Gender Equality Technical Committee is committed within its mandate to produce ideas for structures that will safeguard gender equality and social rights not only for women but for all marginalized groups in our communities. We believe that the gender perspective and the recognition of the need to initiate processes to eliminate the marginalization and exclusion of women in the political process in Cyprus has been long overdue.

We are also fully aware of the importance of the active involvement of all in building sustainable peace and reconciliation. To this end we reaffirm that our understanding of peace extends beyond the absence of military violence and necessitates the abolition of structural violence, such as poverty, hunger, all forms of discrimination and social injustice. We are committed to building a Culture of Peace based on the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities, eliminating all forms of racism, ensuring gender equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence as well as promoting environmental sustainability, and building strong democratic institutions that uphold transparency and accountability.