The Cyprus Family Planning Association and the Cyprus State: A Review of a 50-Year-Old Relationship (1971-2021).

This paper analyses the relationship between the Cyprus State and the Cyprus Family Planning Association (CFPA) for all the CFPA’s existence in Cyprus (1971 to date). By reviewing relevant documents and interviewing people in the CFPA and the State, it argues that even though aspects of the relationship have changed through the years, it had never been confrontational; on the contrary, there was collaboration on a number of issues, in particular in providing services and information to various social groups, including workers in the government. One contentious issue was the introduction of sexuality education in schools, which was being discussed for several years. The CFPA used a variety of lobbying strategies, and despite a positive occasional response, the topic was not introduced in schools until 2012 when a variety of factors, such as government determination for educational reform, key people, and social attitudes, all contributed to its eventual introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]