The situation in Cyprus:
Gender inequality is most pronounced in the domain of power as women are severely underrepresented in decision-making.
• Following the parliamentary elections of 2021, there are only 8 female MPs out of a total of 56 members in the House of Representatives (86% men MPs, 14% women MPs)
• Only 3 out of 11 Ministers of the Government are women
• Approximately 60% of all Judges are men and 40%, women
• Additionally, only 8% of members of boards of large companies are women

The Cyprus Issue – women involvement
The Cyprus Issue is discussed and the decisions are taken mainly by men. The course of this crucial issue for the country and for the whole population of Cyprus must be taken equally by both genders. The substantial representation of women in decision-making is extremely necessary. The full implementation of Resolution 1325, “Women, Peace and Security”, which was adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000, must be fully implemented in Cyprus, a country half occupied by the Turks. The full and effective representation of women in all sectors and at all levels of decision-making and their equal participation in the efforts made for the reunification of Cyprus is very important.

Women should be effectively involved in the peace negotiations in Cyprus. Their voices should be heard and their concerns and proposals should be equally adopted. In a fully democratic country, such as Cyprus, women must have an equal presence in decision-making centers. We must all work towards this direction.

The effective participation of women in peace processes is a dynamic process of gender mainstreaming and equality. Studies and research have shown that when women are involved in peace processes, agreements made are 35% stronger and are likely to last more than 15 years.

Media
Overall, men are over-represented as news subjects and journalists both in traditional media with a representation rate of 79%, as well as in digital media with a representation of 83% ·A closer look at the data, reveals that women make up only 11% of people in the news about politics and government, a percentage dramatically lower than that recorded in the previous survey in 2015 (30%) ·In relation to the economy, the rate is 13%, slightly higher than in 2015 where the percentage was 10%; and in relation to news on science and health, the rate is only 32%.

Pay Gap
Economic equality remains a challenge for women in Cyprus; the gender pay gap, for example, is currently at 10.4%. The labour market is segregated, with women concentrated in low-paying and less valued sectors such as caregiving, education, and domestic work. Gender inequalities in employment persist despite the fact that more women than men in Cyprus are university graduates.

Women killings
43 women were killed in Cyprus between 2000 and 2021. From the age of 15, one in five women in Cyprus have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a partner and/or a non-partner

Violence against women
> A big amount of women experience violence mainly from their partners
> Many women have been sexually harassed by their work superiors
> A notable number of women and young girls have been sexually abused mainly by close related family
Because of the small society, the victims avoid and are also afraid to speak. They experience emotions of shame and are also afraid the stigmatization. They worry that society and the authorities will accuse them of “provoking” their perpetrators.

Human trafficking
Human trafficking is an international scourge with big profits in Cyprus as well. The main victims are again women and girls. If it comes to our attention that a person is a victim of trafficking, we have to report it immediately. All these unacceptable issues derive from patriarchy, which allows men to feel superior to women and therefore to mistreat women.

What can be done?

Education:
Explain through various actions the damages of the patriarchal model and the necessity to abandon it. Investment should be made in the education of the entire population. Custom-made education for different audiences. The education system should build its curriculum towards the necessity of gender equality and the benefits of equality for both genders.
We must invest in the empowerment of women through education and other actions to be able to speak up at all times. To demand fairness and equal treatment to be more actively involved in politics and change laws and legislations towards a fairness society. Most of all we must educate society to understand the significance of equality and equity for the whole population.

Laws and Policies
The implementation of laws and policies is very important. When people fail to learn through education the proper laws should apply. A state of fairness should respect and treat all people equally. Stricter measures and sentences should apply to gender crimes.

Watch all the presentations here

Η οικονομική ισότητα παραμένει πρόκληση για τις γυναίκες στην Κύπρο. Το μισθολογικό χάσμα μεταξύ των δύο φύλων, για παράδειγμα, είναι επί του παρόντος στο 10,4%. Η αγορά εργασίας είναι διαχωρισμένη, με τις γυναίκες να συγκεντρώνονται σε επαγγέλματα λιγότερο εκτιμώμενα και με χαμηλές αμοιβές, όπως η παροχή φροντίδας, η εκπαίδευση και η οικιακή εργασία.

Οι ανισότητες των φύλων στην απασχόληση εξακολουθούν να υφίστανται, παρά το γεγονός ότι στην Κύπρο περισσότερες γυναίκες από άντρες είναι πτυχιούχοι πανεπιστημίου.

• Το Κυπριακό συζητείται κυρίως από άνδρες και οι αποφάσεις λαμβάνονται κυρίως από άνδρες.
• Η πορεία αυτού του κρίσιμου ζητήματος για τη χώρα και για ολόκληρο τον πληθυσμό της Κύπρου πρέπει να ληφθεί εξίσου και από τα δύο φύλα. Η ουσιαστική εκπροσώπηση των γυναικών στη λήψη αποφάσεων είναι εξαιρετικά απαραίτητη.
• Η πλήρης εφαρμογή του ψηφίσματος 1325 «Γυναίκες, Ειρήνη και Ασφάλεια», που εγκρίθηκε από το Συμβούλιο Ασφαλείας του ΟΗΕ το 2000, πρέπει να εφαρμοστεί πλήρως στην Κύπρο, μια χώρα ημικατεχόμενη από τους Τούρκους.
• Η πλήρης και αποτελεσματική εκπροσώπηση των γυναικών σε όλους τους τομείς και σε όλα τα επίπεδα λήψης αποφάσεων και η ισότιμη συμμετοχή τους στις προσπάθειες που γίνονται για την επανένωση της Κύπρου είναι πολύ σημαντική
• Οι γυναίκες πρέπει να συμμετέχουν αποτελεσματικά στις ειρηνευτικές διαπραγματεύσεις στην Κύπρο
• Οι φωνές των γυναικών πρέπει να ακουστούν και οι ανησυχίες και οι προτάσεις τους να υιοθετηθούν
• Σε μια πλήρως δημοκρατική χώρα, όπως η Κύπρος, οι γυναίκες πρέπει να έχουν ισότιμη παρουσία στα κέντρα λήψης αποφάσεων. Προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση πρέπει να εργαστούμε όλοι.
• Η αποτελεσματική συμμετοχή των γυναικών στις ειρηνευτικές διαδικασίες είναι μια δυναμική διαδικασία ενσωμάτωσης της διάστασης του φύλου και της ισότητας
• Μελέτες και έρευνες έχουν δείξει ότι όταν οι γυναίκες συμμετέχουν σε ειρηνευτικές διαδικασίες, οι συμφωνίες που γίνονται είναι 35% ισχυρότερες και είναι πιθανό να διαρκέσουν περισσότερα από 15 χρόνια