- Cyprus Women Bi-Communal Coalition (CWBC) officially launched!
Cyprus Women Bi-Communal Coalition (CWBC) was officially launched on 26 April 2024 at Ledra Palace Hotel. Formed by a bi-communal group of influential women from diverse professional and political backgrounds, who are inspired by the Northern Ireland model and guided by the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, the coalition aims to champion the critical involvement of women and inclusion of a gender perspective in the Cyprus peace process, reach out to grassroots women, forge alliances with civil society groups and call for an urgent solution to the Cyprus problem.
- The members of the founding Steering Committee are: Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, Ayşegül Baybars, Doğuş Derya, Emine Dizdarlı, Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, Ipek Borman, Jale Refik-Rogers, Katie Clerides, Meltem Onurkan Samani, Meral Birinci-Sonan, Mine Atlı, Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou, Skevi Koutra Koukouma, Stavri Kalopsidiotou, Stephie Dracos.
- The launch event was under the auspices of the Embassy of Ireland in Cyprus and supported by the UNFICYP.
- The press release of CWBC reads:
“We, as a strongly pro-solution bi-communal group of women, bringing together a diverse array of expertise, knowledge and experience from various professional and political spheres, with a deep commitment to peace, have recently convened and exchanged views in response to the current critical situation affecting the prospects of a solution in Cyprus. Galvanized by our shared concern over the historical absence of full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of women in the Cyprus peace processes, guided by the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security and inspired by the transformative role of women in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations that successfully led to the Good Friday Agreement, we have unanimously agreed to form the Cyprus Women Bi-communal Coalition (CWBC) and adopted our manifesto. Building on the manifesto, our goal is three-fold: (i) urgent solution to the Cyprus problem; ii) full, equal and meaningful participation of women at the negotiating table at all levels of the negotiation process and inclusion of a gender perspective in the negotiations; (iii) strengthening the role of women in peacebuilding by promoting a culture of peace and reconciliation. Towards implementing our manifesto and mobilizing broad support, we declare our commitment to catalyze action by conducting outreach to grassroots women in our communities and forging strong alliances with civil society.”
