Peace Building Efforts for Reconciliation

In the seminar titled 'Peace Building Efforts for Reconciliation in Cyprus' organized by Cyprus and Mediterranean Studies Center (CYPMED) of Cyprus International University (CIU), the theoretical foundations of conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in Cyprus as well as resistance to hostile/selective narratives and the difficulties encountered in the peacebuilding process were discussed.

The seminar that started with the opening speech of CYPMED Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sertaç Sonan, and the speaker was  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Hadjipavlou, who is   a  Conflict Resolution and Gender Studies specialist and also a member of the  Technical Committee on  Gender Equality.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadjipavlou first gave information about the theoretical background of peacebuilding studies, and then reflected on the characteristics of difficult conflicts in general.

In her presentation, Hadjipavlou drew attention to the fact that dialogue should be established at macro, meso and micro levels, and pointed out that the peace process should be built not only at leadership levels, but also as part of a larger dialogue that will include negotiators' work teams, women's organizations, peace activists and academics.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadjipavlou stated in the context of the Cyprus problem that the interest of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities generally gained momentum with the macro-level negotiation processes, and that the biggest shortcoming was the lack of a social peace movement.

The seminar was attended by graduate and doctorate students, and academicians.  After her presentation, Hadjipavlou answered the questions asked by students and faculty members about the relationship between economy and conflict resolution, as well as the reasons why women did not take part in the negotiation processes from past to present.