The Full Story
Our NGOs' Women in Film and Television-Cyprus and Environmental Society of Lefka Association, advocacy strategy underscores the importance of transparency, collaboration, and a holistic approach to addressing pressing issues such as environmental degradation and conflict.
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Through our initiatives, we strive to inspire positive change, fostering a future marked by peace, sustainability, and collective well-being.
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Our project, "CWEP – CYPRUS WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEMAKERS: Growing Bridges, Planting Peace" based on the UN Resolution 1325 (2000) [S/RES/1325 (2000)] which affirms the importance of the participation of women and the inclusion of gender perspectives in peace negotiations, humanitarian planning, peacekeeping operations, and post-conflict peacebuilding and governance, aligns closely with the objectives, focus, and expected outcomes of the PLACE in Cyprus Project's Small Grants Programme.​
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CWEP - Cyprus Women Environmental Peacemakers project is funded by the European Union under the PLACE in Cyprus Small Grants Programme and implemented by the Environmental Society of Lefka and Women in Film and Television Cyprus.
Raising Awareness:
A central aspect of the advocacy strategy is raising awareness within the community,
with a particular focus on engaging both youth and older generations.
By empowering individuals and youth to become more active citizens, our CSOs seek to mobilize collective action towards environmental conservation and other societal issues such as peace and gender equality.
Promoting Peace:
Recognizing the absence of peace negotiations between conflicting parties since 2017, our CSOs, particularly women within the organization, are determined to work towards peace-building initiatives.
Inspired by Cyprus's history and motivated by women's role as nurturers of Mother Earth, women are positioned as catalysts for collaboration between diverse stakeholders, including local and European bodies, towards achieving peace.
Collaborative Approach:
We facilitate joint activities such as intercultural dialogue in a two-day conference with personalities, activists, environmentalists, educators, academics and local bodies.
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Our initiative:
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strengthens the cross-communal relations established through earlier stages of the PLACE in Cyprus project.
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encourages collaboration between CSOs and relevant Bi-Communal Organizations, leveraging existing structures to support and enhance advocacy efforts.
Emphasizing collaboration, our CSOs advocate for the involvement of various stakeholders, including women's NGOs, in peace-building efforts.
Through initiatives like the "CWEP – CYPRUS WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEMAKERS: Growing Bridges, Planting Peace", which symbolically represents unity and harmony, our CSOs seek to sow seeds for a united and peaceful future not only for Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, but also for the entire region, East and West.
Empowerment and Inspiration:
By highlighting the inherent strength and nurturing qualities of women, our CSOs aim to inspire both individuals and local bodies to recognize the vital role women play in peace-building and environmental conservation.
Through empowerment and advocacy, women aspire to effect meaningful change in society.
​Women have the divine gift of giving birth and becoming mothers, much like Mother Earth, who, since the beginning of the world, has nurtured plants and sustained all living beings.
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Metaphorically, the "CWEP – CYPRUS WOMEN ENVIRONMENTAL PEACEMAKERS: Growing Bridges, Planting Peace", an initiative by women NGOs, aims to sow the seeds for a united and peaceful future for Cyprus, its people and beyond.