A significant piece of research is underway in Cyprus, led by Dr Antigone Heraclidou as part of her postdoctoral work at the Centre for Peace Studies at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The project seeks to understand how women from different communities recall the island’s past, how they view conflict, and how they imagine their potential roles in shaping a peaceful future. It is a timely and meaningful study that places women at the centre of conversations that have long defined the history and identity of Cyprus.
The project, entitled Women’s Perceptions on Women’s Roles in Conflict and Peacebuilding: The Cyprus Case, examines two central themes. The first is how people remember and interpret the events that took place between 1960 and 1974, where this knowledge originates, and how they perceive members of other communities today. It also looks at whether communication exists between groups and how women envision the future of the island in relation to the Cyprus Question.
The second theme focuses on women’s roles in conflict. It aims to map how women understand their participation, experiences and contributions during tumultuous periods, and how they view their potential involvement in post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding. The study aspires to listen closely to voices that have historically remained underrepresented, and to understand how perspectives differ across generations and communities.
This first phase of the project involves focus groups with women born between 1970 and 2006 who belong to the Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, Maronite, Armenian or Latin communities. Participation is voluntary and confidential, and discussions last between sixty and ninety minutes.
The purpose is to create a respectful and open space where women can express their views freely, contributing to research that may offer new insights into Cyprus’s social fabric and future pathways.
Women who wish to take part are invited to express their interest through the form HERE
This is an opportunity to support rigorous academic work that recognises the importance of women’s experiences, encourages dialogue and strengthens understanding across the island.