Education
Mavrou initially studied Civil Engineering at the Higher Technical Institute in Nicosia, but continued her education at the University of London where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Politics and International Relations.
Member of the European Parliament politician
Mavrou initially studied Civil Engineering at the Higher Technical Institute in Nicosia, but continued her education at the University of London where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Politics and International Relations.
She served as Minister of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus until February 2013. Until 2011 she was the mayor of the capital city Nicosia for 5 years. Thus Ms Mavrou became the first female mayor of the Nicosia as well as the first female Minister of Interior.
Born in Kyrenia in 1961, her family was forced to leave their house in 1974 due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and since then has been residing in Nicosia.
During her student years, Ms Mavrou was actively involved in Cypriot local student movement and later in the progressive youth movement. Among other things, she held the position of Vice President of the Cyprus Federation of Students and Young Scientists, and was appointed Secretary General of EDON. In addition, she demonstrated a great interest in human rights issues and played an active role in the women's movement.
She served as a Councilor on the Nicosia Municipal Council for two consecutive terms from 1986 to 1996. She was elected Mayor of Nicosia and became the first female mayor of the capital of Cyprus.
She took office on January 2, 2007 and held the post until December 31, 2011.
On March 20, 2012 she was appointed Minister of Interior. She is also longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award.
In the Municipal Elections which were held on December 17, 2006, she ran as the candidate of the Municipal Coalition which united the three parties of Anorthotiko Komma Ergazomenou Laou (Progressive Party of the Working People), DIKO and EDEK.
As a member of Anorthotiko Komma Ergazomenou Laou (Progressive Party of the Working People)’s Central Committee, Ms Mavrou’s efforts were focused on the areas of Local Authority and the Environment for many years. In 2001 she was elected in Nicosia to be among Anorthotiko Komma Ergazomenou Laou (Progressive Party of the Working People)’s members of the House of Representatives, and was re-elected to the same position in 2006. She served as President of the House Committee on the Environment and a member of the House Committees on Internal Affairs and Human Rights.
She was a member of the European Convention on the Future of the European Union, and in 2003 was appointed by the House of Representatives as a Cyprus observer at the European Parliament.
After Cyprus’s accession to the European Union and until the elected Cyprus Members of the European Parliament took office, Ms Mavrou represented Cyprus at the European Parliament. During the same period, she was a member of the Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as well as the Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Internal Affairs.