By Rafaella Charalambous

• Law Student, University of Sunderland

Fifty-two years after the Turkish invasion of 1974, Cyprus still remembers. It remembers the dead, the missing, the refugees, and the prisoners. It remembers the families that were torn apart and the lives that were changed forever. Collective memory has kept many of the tragedies of that summer alive. There are, however, aspects of the story that have only begun to come to light in recent years. Not because they did not happen, but because for decades they remained on the margins of public discourse or had not yet been brought to light through public testimonies and official institutional acknowledgments. Within this context, a question arises that deserves to be examined with objectivity, legal precision, and respect for every victim:
Has our collective memory equally recognized every documented form of victimization caused by the invasion?

The Protection of Human Dignity in International Law

Sexual violence in times of war is not merely another form of violence. It constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and, under certain conditions, may amount to a war crime or a crime against humanity. The Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and contemporary international jurisprudence treat sexual violence as an affront to human dignity, regardless of the victim’s gender. The protection afforded by international law does not differ depending on whether the victim is a woman, a man, or a child; it is grounded in respect for human dignity and the obligation to protect every person who is outside combat or under the control of a party to the conflict.

Cyprus and the Institutions The discussion surrounding the less publicized forms of victimization during the Turkish invasion is no longer based exclusively on personal testimonies. In recent years, such accounts have also gained institutional recognition.
A prime example is the statement by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, Maria Michael, during the Security Council’s open debate on “Women, Peace, and Security.” In her statement, she referred to the sexual violence committed during the Turkish invasion of 1974, noting that the victims included women and girls, as well as men and boys.
The European Parliament took a similar stance. In its resolution of July 8, 2026, on the impact of the Turkish invasion on women and girls, it did not limit itself to condemning sexual violence as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. It also recognized that the victims included boys and men, while emphasizing the need to preserve historical memory, recognizing survivors, and ensuring accountability for the crimes committed.

The Silence of the Survivors

The institutional acknowledgments of recent years take on particular significance when considered alongside the public testimonies of survivors, which have only recently begun to be recorded more systematically. People’s decision to speak out after more than five decades is not only a personal act of courage; it also highlights the weight of the silence that has surrounded these crimes for many years.
A recent investigative report by the program “24 Hours” provided a public platform for survivors to share their experiences, shedding light on an aspect of history that for decades remained largely unknown in public discourse. The testimony of “Christos,” who chose to speak publicly while remaining anonymous, describes not only the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child during the invasion, but also the consequences that, as he himself states, have continued to haunt him “for fifty years now.” At the same time, the President of the Association of Prisoners of War, Vassos Christou, points out that these are aspects of the invasion that for decades remained taboo in public discourse.
This view is further supported by the scientific perspective. Dr. Stelios Georgiadis, Professor of Clinical Psychology, explains that the symptoms described are consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a serious mental disorder that can affect victims of traumatic experiences for the rest of their lives. In this light, the delayed onset of such symptoms should come as no surprise; on the contrary, it is consistent with what science currently knows about the long-term consequences of psychological trauma.

When Memory Becomes Justice

Historical memory does not remain static. It is enriched as new evidence, public testimonies, and institutional acknowledgments are added to the historical record. This process does not revise the facts; it contributes to a more complete understanding of them. The recognition of the women and girls who suffered sexual violence during the Turkish invasion is an integral part of historical truth. The same applies to every other documented victim. The protection of human dignity, as enshrined in international humanitarian law, does not vary according to gender, age, ethnicity, or any other human characteristic. For this reason, historical memory, too, cannot be selective. The presentation of these testimonies does not seek to reorder the hierarchy of human suffering or to pit women against men. It seeks to remind us that historical justice requires the recognition of every documented victim.