[PIO] Event of the National Mechanism for Women's Rights (NMWR) entitled "Claiming political participation. Meet the women candidates

An event entitled "We claim political participation. Meet the women candidates for the European Parliament", organized by the National Mechanism for Women's Rights (NMWR).

Welcoming the event, the President of the NMWR, Commissioner for Gender Equality Ms. Josie Christodoulou stressed the need for greater and more active participation of women in politics, citing indicative figures. It took 30 years for the latter, since in 1995 women legislators were at 11%. In the European Parliament, the percentage of women MEPs has gradually increased. Only 31 women were members from 1952 until the first elections in 1979. In the first directly elected European Parliament, women's representation was only 15.9%. The percentage has increased drastically since then and reached, in February 2024, an encouraging 39.8%, with Cyprus being represented by one woman."

The Commissioner expressed hope as the composition of the new European Parliament reinforces the optimism for a more equal representation of women and men both from Cyprus and from all Member States. She stressed, at the same time, that the participation of more women in any sector is not an end in itself. The constant criterion, he said, should be merit, as defined by the given context in each case. What is certain is that the criterion must not be gender, she stressed.

Finally, Ms Christodoulou referred to specific government policies and actions that assist women's full employment and offer them the necessary free time to have the opportunity, if they wish, to get involved in public and political life.

This was followed by a presentation of the women candidates in the forthcoming elections for members of the new European Parliament, followed by a discussion with their participation in three thematic panels: Peace, Security and International Policy, Health and Social Policy and Economy and Environmental Policy. Finally, the candidates answered questions from journalists and the audience.

(AA/NYAN/EATH)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source

[/URL][/P]
Source[/P][/URL][/URL][/P][/URL].