Canadian envoy draws on Cyprus' experience in meeting the needs of female migrants

On September 12, 2024, news from Nicosia, Cyprus. Canada's special envoy for women, peace and security affairs said that at a time when the number of displaced people globally is unprecedented, Canada is drawing on Cyprus' experience in meeting the needs of female migrants, children and people fleeing conflict areas.

Canada is one of more than a dozen countries that have signed bilateral agreements with Cyprus to temporarily accept their own citizens evacuated from neighboring countries until they are repatriated. Cyprus helped repatriate nearly 60,000 third-country nationals evacuated from Lebanon in 2006 and took similar actions for those evacuated from Sudan last year.

Special Envoy Jacqueline O'Neill said that meetings with Cypriot officials provided valuable experience that Canada can apply in future citizen repatriation operations, especially for pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, and appropriate facilities, medical assistance and separate accommodation for women need to be considered.

O'Neill also met with Cypriot women's groups. She pointed out that statistics show that if women are effectively involved in negotiations, there is a 35% chance that peace agreements will last at least 15 years. She emphasized that women are not inherently more peaceful, but can bring new perspectives and expand the scope of issues under discussion. She said that the best decisions are made when those affected have a say, and the whole process is strengthened by their participation.