Cyprus marked International Women’s Day on Saturday.

President Nikos Christodoulides sent a message of support and stressed the Government’s commitment to strengthening gender equality.

In a post on X, President Christodoulides, addressing Cyprus’ women, said, “together we change Cyprus,” and stressed the Government’s commitment to continuous progress and strengthening gender equality.

New challenges and new fields of intervention make it “imperative” to integrate the gender dimension into a broad range of actions, policies and measures to promote gender equality, Minister of Justice Marios Hartsiotis said in his message for International Women’s Day. He also said that today’s anniversary reminds the struggle and the significant achievements of Cypriot women and strengthens the state’s efforts to implement the principle of equality in all areas of life.

Law Commissioner Louiza Christodoulidou Zannetou, noted in her own message that her office, “through its role in the modernisation and harmonisation of legislation with international and European standards, contributes to the protection of women’s rights and the promotion of legislative initiatives that actively enhance equality.” She notes that currently her office was contributing to the revision of legislation on domestic violence and the formulation of a bill on violence against women, among other things.

Increased state of vigilance is required to address violence against women and eradicate stereotypes, said Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, in a statement marking International Women’s Day.

The Commissioner notes that women “have managed to achieve recognition of a series of rights, while gender equality is now included in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and is recognised as a human right.”

Political parties, trade unions, women’s groups, among others, have issued statements noting the importance of gender equality and the need for more to be done as regards women’s rights, while various events are being held over the weekend.

Source: Parikiaki.com