Joint Statement on the Occasion of International Women's Day

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, under the global theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the members of the Platform on Protecting Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women from Violence reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding the rights of, and ensuring protection for all women and girls in Cyprus. It is worth noting however that those who have been forced to flee persecution, conflict and human rights violations face heightened risks of gender-based violence and discrimination, often compounded by displacement, limited support networks and barriers in accessing information and services. Addressing these risks requires coordinated action among national authorities, civil society organisations and international actors, as well as effective identification, referral and support mechanisms.

In Cyprus, progress continues to be made in implementing the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women (2023–2028). As implementation advances and its progress is being monitored, sustained collaboration and adequate resources remain essential to support effective prevention of and response to gender-based violence, including for refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls.

Members of the Platform draw attention to the role played by civil society organisations in Cyprus, working alongside government authorities, in providing specialised support to refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls, including shelter, legal counselling and psychosocial assistance. These services are essential to ensure that survivors of violence can safely access information, appropriate support and protection.

However, members of the Platform note with concern that global reductions in humanitarian funding are increasingly affecting the capacity of organisations to maintain specialised services for vulnerable women and girls. These constraints risk reducing outreach, limiting access to psychosocial support and weakening prevention and early identification efforts, particularly for women living outside urban centres.

In this context, the Platform calls for predictable, sustainable and adequate funding to protect and support refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls through the specialized services critical to their wellbeing and survival.

Members of the Platform on Protecting Refugee and Asylum-seeking Women from Violence:
– Advisory Committee for the Prevention and Combating of Violence in the Family
– CARITAS Cyprus
– Cyprus Family Planning Association
– Cyprus Refugee Council
– Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies
– National Coordinating Body on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women
– UNHCR Cyprus