President Ersin Tatar will attend an event on Wednesday, which will also be attended by Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades under the aegis of Colin Stewart, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

A joint action plan on Gender Equality approved by both leaders will be promoted at the event which will take place at the UN headquarters located at the old Nicosia Airport in the UN controlled buffer zone.

The plan seeks ways to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the settlement process/an eventual settlement process in Cyprus.

The Action Plan was developed by the Technical Committee on Gender Equality and includes practical recommendations addressing three key questions: how to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful representation; how to engage with civil society, including women’s organisations in order to solicit their views; and, how to include a gender perspective in the settlement process/an eventual settlement process in Cyprus.

On January 27 in its resolution 2618 (2022), the United Nations Security Council welcomed the joint Action Plan on ensuring women’s participation in peace talks and encouraged the sides to ensure the needs and perspectives of women are addressed in a future settlement.

According to a statement released, the final touches are being put on the plan by women’s civil society organisations who were invited by the bicommunal technical committee for Gender Equality to give their input.

An opening speech will be delivered by the UN Special Representative Colin Stewart followed by presentations by the co-chairs of the bicommunal committee who will give information on the work of the committee as well as the joint action plan.

Representatives of the various women’s organisations which have contributed to the plan will attend online.