“A Declaration of Unity: Empowering Youth Voices in Cyprus”

Preamble

We, the Cyprus Youth Council and the co-signing youth organizations from around Cyprus, express our grave concern over the continuing political deadlock and the lack of processes leading to a comprehensive solution in Cyprus. We reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful, unified, and prosperous island and insist on the meaningful inclusion of young people in the processes shaping our future.

With this Declaration, we present a shared vision for our common future in Cyprus and building sustainable peace on our island and want to be included in the processes that shape our prospects for such a future.

Building on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and highlighting the need to adhere and respect UN Security Council resolutions and UN General Assembly resolutions and the relevant international law;

Reminding of the obligations set out in United Nations Security Council resolutions on Youth, Peace and Security and Youth Participation in peace negotiations, such as 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020), including resolutions specifically to Cyprus, such as 30 January 2024 resolution 2723 and the latest 31 January 2025 resolution 2771;

Recalling the importance of the Guiding Principles on Young People’s Participation in Peacebuilding in creating a foundation that ensures young people’s participation and contribution to building peace, including in conflict and post-conflict contexts. We consider the bicommunal technical committee on youth as a positive step towards this direction;

Acknowledging the work of national authorities, foreign governments, European institutions, and international organizations in incorporating youth in peacebuilding initiatives;

Recognizing the essential and positive contributions of the youth in efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the fact that the youth actively participate in reconciliation efforts;

In this regard, we call upon the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus to:

1. Include young people in the structure/formal negotiations processes (Track 1) granting them a voice and the opportunity to articulate their perspectives. With regard to the Greek Cypriot community, the youth representatives will be drawn from the Cyprus Youth Council’s board and the boards of youth organizations of political parties which are members of the Cyprus Youth Council.

2. Include young people in all the technical committees as well as in the negotiation teams meetings through a consultative process.

3. Commit to the creation of a democratic, fair, functional and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, that aligns with the laws and principles of the European Union, the UN Declaration on Human Rights, and UN resolutions.

4.  Work toward the establishment of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with sole sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, and political equality, as described in the resolutions of the Security Council of the UN.

5. Consider the establishment of designated youth spaces at checkpoints along the buffer zone to foster dialogue and cooperation.

6. Enhance and implement Confidence Building Measures that promote reconciliation and meaningful engagement between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities including youth.

7. Exercise caution to refrain from actions or rhetoric that detracts from a successful process or could make it more difficult to achieve.

Today, with more young people than ever in Cyprus, it is a demographic imperative to include the young voices in decision-making processes and peacebuilding efforts.

We express our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, Her Excellency Mrs. María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, the United Nations Security Council, UN agencies, European Union institutions, and other European organizations supporting the Cyprus settlement process. Their commitment to youth participation in peace and security is invaluable to our shared vision.

Co-signatories:

1. Cyprus Youth Council
2. EDON – Unified Democratic Youth Organization
3. NIDHK – Youth of the Democratic Party
4. NEDISY – Youth of the Democratic Rally
5. NEODHPA – Youth of Democratic Alignment
6. CTP Gençlik Örgütü – Youth of the Republican Turkish Party
7. Sol Gençlik – Youth of the Left Movement
8. Liberal Democracy Movement
9. SEK Youth – Cyprus Workers Confederation
10. PEO Youth – Pancyprian Federation of Labour
11. P.O.F.E.N. – Pancyprian Organisation of Student Associations
12. F.P.K Protoporia – Students Movement
13. Κ.F. Proodeftiki – Students Movement
14. DI.PA.K.F. Anagennisi – Students Movement
15. P.S.E.M. – Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Students
16. Cyprus Youth DiplomaCY
17. Oxygen for Democracy
18. ESN Cyprus – Erasmus Student Network Cyprus
19. Youth Dynamics
20. JCI Cyprus – Junior Chamber International Cyprus 
21. YoungShip Cyprus
22. Plan Be, Plan it Be
23. YEY – Youth for Exchange and Understanding

We call upon all youth organisations from around Cyprus to co-sign the Youth Declaration.

If you are interested, please email us at [email protected] or send us a message through our social media accounts.