Friday, 11 March 2022 American University of Cyprus in Larnaca
Dear Mayor,
Ladies and gentlemen of the Larnaca and Famagusta District Committee of KYKEM,
Mr President of the AUCY, Dr Marc-Antoine Zabbal,
Dear Friends,
What is it that we could say defines a person in a leadership position? It is certainly not something independent of his or her role and behavior. It is being able to inspire those around him through the standard he reflects and projects. And yes women role models we have many in the history of our country. The production of historical narratives, mainly through the official educational process, downplayed or ignored the presence, work and activity of women, resulting in the perpetuation of traditional social prejudices, stereotypes and gender-based discrimination.
In the last 20 years, the clear European orientation of Cyprus, combined with the creation and development of the academic community, has created a new framework for social, scientific and political debate on the place and role of women in the history of the European Union. Interpreting Women's Lives" of 2004.
Through the scientific work of male and female academics, we came into contact with the important presence of women in Cyprus, such as EOKA fighter and literary artist Ivi Meleagrou, teacher Eleni Avtonomou, athletes Hera Mitsidou and Domnica Lanitou, the first woman lawyer and first Minister Stella Soulioti, the artist Loukia Nicolaidou, the first Greek Cypriot councilwoman Rina Katsellis, the first Turkish Cypriot councilwoman Aila Kiazim, the first doctor Maria Roussou, the first journalist Maroula Iakovidou Violari and the actress Kyproula Evaggelidou.
Despite the progress made in understanding the contribution of women to cultural, social and economic creation in Cyprus, today we still insist on discussing the need for reforms to ensure equal opportunities between women and men. We insist because obstacles to achieving substantive equality still exist. These barriers are primarily cultural but also institutional. They stem from deep-rooted social stereotypes and prejudices that entrench and perpetuate male dominance in politics, the production process, science and leadership in general. To overturn patriarchal norms, strong political commitment, determination and empowerment of women's demands are needed. We must all together, women and men, contribute to the effort to cultivate a new culture that will free us from gender discrimination and lead us to a new normality. A society where each and every one of us creates, develops, contributes and dreams on the basis of our true potential and aspirations.
I must point out that in recent times, at the legislative level, we have managed to achieve some important steps in the desired direction with regard to gender-based violence. We have ratified the Istanbul Convention, which is the first internationally legally binding text on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. We criminalised sexism, online sexism and harassment. We introduced the term 'femicide' into the criminal code, i.e. the most extreme form of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual violence, or violence based on honour or religious beliefs and genital mutilation practices, which until now in most cases went unreported and unpunished, consolidating for decades the perception that violence against women is an acceptable or even unavoidable phenomenon. Now, with the amendment we have brought about, we are giving legal and scientific visibility to a social reality that neither the legislature nor the judiciary can no longer mask or overlook.
And I see the case of the Proposed Law on Female Feticide as a prime example of effective assertion and success of the change we all want. Because we achieved the desired result through the determined collaboration of women and men in politics, science and academia, and non-governmental organizations. And I extend my sincere thanks to all of you who contributed and supported the effort we made in Parliament, either through public writing, or through your presence in the relevant parliamentary committee, or through the scientific substantiation of our arguments.
In the coming months, we will place emphasis on strengthening gender equality in 2 major areas of social activity. However, there remain various constraints that prevent their even greater creative presence and there are still phenomena of unequal treatment in terms of earnings, benefits and opportunities for career advancement.
In the framework of the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan recently adopted by the House of Representatives, we will closely monitor actions to promote women's entrepreneurship and training programmes for women, particularly in the fields of Information Technologies We will also focus on the effective implementation of plans to create adequate childcare facilities to facilitate the integration and reintegration of mothers into the labour market and the reconciliation of professional and private life. At the same time, in cooperation with employers' and trade union organisations, universities and non-governmental organisations, we will deepen social dialogue in order to find ways to reduce and eventually eliminate any inequalities in wages for work of equal value.
With regard to the functioning and deepening of democracy, it is my firm belief that effective representation of the whole population is essential. Although in recent years, through much effort, some steps have been taken in the right direction, there is much that needs to be done and can be done. Balanced gender representation in decision-making centres and leadership remains a major goal that can be achieved both through social mobilisation and through legislation and regulation. I am particularly pleased that very recently the President of the Republic adopted and promoted the proposal, also in response to the relevant reference of UN Security Council Resolution 2587 (2021), for an action plan on ways to ensure the full, equal and effective participation of women in the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.
In closing, I assure you that, as the first woman Speaker of our country's Parliament, I remain committed to the goal I set from the beginning: to promote a positive female role model in politics that inspires, encourages and motivates more women to participate assertively in public life.
Thank you very much.
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