Justice for Cypriots

Healing

Cypriot society has been polarized since the 50s through multiple failed peace talks, making it incredibly difficult for productive conversations to be held. Our generation did not directly experience the height of the violence, though we too suffer the consequences of it. Many of us had our childhoods taken away from us, being raised by traumatized parents.

I organise safer spaces for members of all Cypriot communities to express themselves freely and respectfully (in all our languages), safely processing or not processing their feelings and experiences. With a trauma-sensitive, intersectional approach, solidarity circles (or Q&A sessions as displayed above for The Divided Island) are one step towards reconciling all the time we have lost, to develop just policies that address the concerns of all Cypriots with equity. Holding space requires an emotional capacity that we do not all have the privilege to have, I intend to make it so we can meet people where they are at in their healing.

What makes us Cypriot? That's for us, only us, to decide.

Topics I discuss, holding room for complexity and nuance on the @decolonialcypriot instagram page include;

Topics discussed

• Proximity to whiteness & eurocentrism

• Current politics, particularly anti-immigration sentiment and economic standing

• Timeline of significant events & political roles

• Intervention & invasion

• Victimisation & its nuances

• Negative peace

• Failed solutions

• Trustworthy sources & disinformation

• Cyprus' natural resources rights

• Systemic accountability & ethical rage

• Positionalities & bias

• Validation of pain & the importance of storytelling

• Truth & reconciliation committee

• One-sided narratives & the ethics of violence

• The coloniality of power

• Pluriversality & decoloniality

• Historical inaccuracies & nationalism

• Imperalism & autonomy

• Power dynamics in the context of EOKA-B vs TMT

Incorporating scientific research, traditional knowledge and qualitative techniques, I aim to consult public policies to reflect the realities of all Cypriots. I co-create with actors in civil society, government and international law to ensure effectiveness. Without our policies making steps towards genuine autonomy, being anti-racist, feminist and above all, decolonial, we run the risk of maintaining the perpetuating cycle of trauma.

We're cycle breakers.

Policy design

I have no choice but to stay up to date with policies and events affecting the most vulnerable peoples of our world. I provide trauma sensitivity training and facilitate community healing safer spaces for victims, as well as campaigning utilising scientific evidence and storytelling for humane policies.

Please note, Nevcihan Oluşum has raised concerns regarding the usage of this photo for objectives she does not condone.

Campaigning for refugees