Technical Committee on Youth, Cyprus

Country: Cyprus 

Duration: N/A 

Procedure for involvement : Appointment by the Community Leader 

Specific Criteria: 

Description: 

The Technical Committee on Youth in Cyprus is a recent bicommunal initiative established to enhance collaboration and dialogue between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth. Formed in April 2025, the committee comprises 32 members—16 from each community—appointed by President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. The United Nations supports this initiative, encouraging the committee to promote dialogue, foster engagement, and support initiatives reflecting the shared aspirations and challenges of young people across the island. 

The committee is co-chaired by Vehbi Zeki Serter, a Turkish Cypriot with a master’s degree in international relations from Bogazici University, and Amalia Avraam, a Greek Cypriot lawyer and chairwoman of the NGO “Cyprus Youth Diplomacy,” holding a Master of Laws from City St George’s, University of London. 

While specific programs are still under development, the committee aims to: 

• Promote dialogue and mutual understanding between youth from both communities. 

• Support initiatives that reflect the shared aspirations and challenges of young people across Cyprus. 

• Encourage youth participation in peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts. 

Baground on the Technical Committee: The first Technical Committees were established in 2008, following an agreement between the then Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, with the facilitation of the United Nations. These Committees serve as important confidence-building mechanisms, bringing together experts from both communities to address practical, everyday issues affecting people across the island. Each Committee focuses on a specific area of cooperation—ranging from health, environment, and education, to crime, cultural heritage, and humanitarian affairs. Their goal is to foster collaboration, build trust, and improve the lives of all Cypriots through constructive, people-centered engagement. The creation of these Committees reflects a shared commitment to dialogue and reconciliation, while contributing to the broader peace process under the auspices of the United Nations Good Offices Mission in Cyprus. 

Source: UN CYPRUS TALK 

https://uncyprustalks.unmissions.org/leaders-cyprus-share-list-names-technical-committee-youth