"No Equality Without Peace – No Peace Without Equality"
BPW Cyprus (Business and Professional Women) successfully hosted its 7th Mediterranean Symposium in Nicosia on November 14 and 15, 2025, bringing together women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across the Mediterranean and Europe.
The Symposium was held under the auspices of BPW International and the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides.
The President was represented by the Deputy Minister to the President, Ms. Eirini Piki, who delivered an official address and underlined the crucial role of women in peace, development, and social cohesion.
The opening ceremony was conducted at a notably high level, with the presence of party leaders, Members of Parliament, ambassadors, as well as political and state officials, who honored the event and the work of BPW Cyprus with their participation.
The most significant moment of the Symposium was the unanimous adoption of the "Peace Resolution," which highlights BPW's serious concerns about the ongoing conflicts and political instability in the Mediterranean.
The Resolution is being formally sent to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as to the embassies of the five permanent members of the Security Council, as an appeal for immediate action and the strengthening of global efforts for peace.
The central message of the Resolution clearly states: "We cannot have gender equality without peace, nor peace without gender equality."
The Four Crucial Demands to the UN
BPW calls upon the international community to take immediate action on the following axes:
1. Full implementation of Human and Social Rights, including the Right to Life.
2. Enhancing the participation of all institutions and civil society in peace processes.
3. Elimination of all forms of violence, particularly gender-based violence, which is a constant barrier to development.
4. Promotion of a holistic security approach, from the local to the international level.
Symposium Proceedings
Friday, November 14 – Women’s Leadership & Decision-Making
The first day at the Cyta Amphitheater focused on women's leadership and centers of decision-making, featuring contributions from foreign personalities in politics, the economy, and civil society.
Saturday, November 15 – Innovation, Green Economy & Entrepreneurship
At the Royal Hall, discussions centered on sustainable development, technology, and new entrepreneurship, highlighting the role of women in the modern green economy. Fireside chats and targeted networking activities enhanced cooperation among the participants.
The President of BPW Cyprus, Ms. Mary Papadopoulou, emphasized in her speech during the Symposium's opening ceremony that, "At the 7th Mediterranean Symposium, we have powerfully reaffirmed our solidarity. We have taken yet another bold, decisive step toward shaping a better future for all women entrepreneurs. We looked clearly at the landscape before us. We identified the common challenges and honestly addressed our painful points. We saw the invisible boundaries, the silent obstacles that discourage women entrepreneurs and unjustly impede their progress, their advancement, and their prosperity."
"But we did not stop there. We looked ahead and defined our vision for the coming years, and even beyond, for the world in which we want the next generation of women to live. We recognize the imperative need to redefine the status quo and bravely promote a new order. An order that will truly reflect the new economic reality and a deep understanding of justice, even as we dismantle the social remnants of the past. We saw the necessity to rephrase the existing rules! And our answer to this challenge? Why not? We can do it!"
BPW Cyprus expresses its warm thanks to its Platinum Sponsor: SEPAGA, its Silver Sponsor: Cyta, and its Sponsors and supporters: Pafilia, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, National Mechanism for Women's Rights, Kapodistrias, OPAP Cyprus, Bathline, Kapnos Airport Shuttle, Catercom.
Their support contributed substantially to the successful conduct of the Symposium and the promotion of the values of equality and women's empowerment.
BPW Cyprus emphasizes that the Peace Resolution represents a unified and decisive voice of the Mediterranean for promoting peaceful coexistence and equality. Peace is the foundation of democracy, development, and social progress.
