The Speaker of the Parliament Anita Demetriou received the Thursday the Ambassador of Poland Irena Lichnerowicz - Augustyn to discuss the issues arising from the Speaker's recent participation in the Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliaments of Member States of the European Union (EU), in Warsaw between 19 and 21 April, at the invitation of the President of the Polish Parliament, Elzbieta Witek. The meeting also discussed the humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to a Parliament statement, referring in particular to her impressions of her visit to the Polish-Ukrainian border in Dorohusk, the refugee reception centre in Lwowska and the "Ptak" humanitarian aid centre in Nadarzyn. Demetriou stressed that witnessing first-hand the drama of Ukraine makes it easier to understand what Cypriot refugees experienced during the 1974 Turkish invasion.
She further pointed out that women and children refugees from Ukraine are under multiple vulnerability, as they are at greater risk of becoming victims of gender and sexual violence or trafficking.
It is reported that the Speaker also briefed the Polish Ambassador on the decisions taken during the meeting regarding joint initiatives and actions to be taken in support of Ukrainian refugees, including a proposal to create an online platform to provide information and assistance to refugees in the Ukrainian language, as well as the possibility for children to continue their education online.
As for the immediate next steps, the President of the Parliament pointed out that these will be finalised during the online meeting of the Women Speakers of the Parliaments of EU Member States scheduled for the near future.
The Polish Ambassador expressed her readiness to assist in every possible way in the implementation of these initiatives and, more generally, in the efforts and initiatives undertaken in practical support of Ukrainian refugees.
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