Respect for women must be non-negotiable, stresses in her statement on Tuesday on the occasion of International Women's Day the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou Lottidi.
According to the press release issued by the Commissioner's office, International Women's Day is a reminder that equality between men and women, access to equal opportunities without discrimination on the basis of gender, protection from gender-based violence, sexism and prejudice, is a daily objective of fundamental importance for democratic states and modern societies.
It is noted that gender equality has been a core value of the European Union since the Treaty of Rome, with an important milestone in 1984 when the European Commission on Women's Rights was created and has continued to be a key principle of the European Pillar of Rights to this day.
The European Parliament, it is added, has decided to focus its actions this year on tackling the impact of the pandemic on women's personal lives and mental health. In particular, it called for a special survey to record the views of women from all generations, all countries and all social strata in the EU on the pandemic period.
According to the results of this special Eurobarometer, 77% of women in the EU believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in physical and psychological violence against women in their country, with this figure reaching 83% in Cyprus.
In addition, in Cyprus 57% of women surveyed identify a negative impact on their income, while 54% say that their mental health has been affected by the restraint measures imposed in response to the pandemic (41% at EU level).
The press release states that although since 2014 the European Parliament has adopted the directive to combat violence against women, recognising that "it is a serious violation of human rights in the field of gender discrimination and the root cause of inequalities", as the Special Rapporteur Antonyia Parv stated at the time, yet 8 years later, as the Eurobarometer shows, gender-based violence, but especially domestic violence, continues to increase in an environment that has not been able to support, but has exacerbated the situation.
The institution of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights has over the years been at the forefront of the struggle for the effective and practical consolidation of gender equality, both through Reports and through relevant Campaigns. An example is the 2021 awareness campaign entitled "Break the Silence", which encouraged women to report incidents of sexual harassment, while promoting the adoption and proper implementation of Codes to prevent and address sexual harassment in places of work, education and women's activities.
Also indicative are the two Reports submitted in relation to gender discrimination against female Volunteer Non-Commissioned Officers, both in their tenure and career advancement, in the National Guard, it is noted.
The Office of the Commissioner of Administration will continue to advocate for the transformation of the structures and policies of the State for the benefit of women, addressing the under-representation of women in political and economic decision making bodies and in positions of hierarchy, the elimination of violence, harassment, gender stereotyping and sexism, the press release said.
The aim is for women to take the lead in decision-making, not to be discriminated against, not to be asked if they feel guilty about working, to be supported by other women, not to have to prove their strength to anyone, and to receive non-negotiable respect, the press release concludes.
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