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The cooperation of the Office of the Equality Commissioner with women's organisations and with wider civil society is not only a given, but is being strengthened on a daily basis. Personally, I take it for granted that without the necessary synergies there can be no acceleration of the promotion of equality between women and men. It is for this reason that during the preparation of the National Strategy for Gender Equality, a broad consultation was held with more than 200 participants and stakeholders from various organisations, including employers, trade unions, businesses and companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), universities and, of course, women's organisations.
These were, among others, the words of Gender Equality Commissioner Ms. Josie Christodoulou, in her address to the 3rdGender Equality Promotion Festival "FemmeFestCyprus", which was organised by the Women's Movement POGO.
Ms Christodoulou stressed that her Office will continue to be the institutional supporter of the Festival, since, as she noted, it hosts and promotes the work of women, as well as of the various bodies and organisations working on gender equality. It gives the opportunity to everyone who visits the festival to be informed about the work of each organisation and body, but especially about issues that concern women's everyday life and are related to their rights.
He added: "We are proceeding with the institutionalization of the Office of the Gender Equality Commissioner, which in parallel establishes equality officers in all Ministries and Deputy Ministries, with the aim of integrating the gender dimension in public policies and actions. Of extreme importance, however, is the fact that the National Mechanism for Women's Rights is also being established at the same time, and is now guaranteed by law. The mechanism funds actions and programmes, such as today's event, so that the deconstruction of stereotypes, the cultivation of critical thinking and information about women's rights and gender equality can be carried out even more systematically."
Subsequently, the Commissioner referred to important developments and actions of the last year that promote gender equality, such as the extension of maternity leave to 22 weeks and for the first child, the creation of parking spaces for pregnant women and families with baby carriages as well as breastfeeding rooms in town halls, and the creation of additional and the strengthening of existing care structures for children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
In closing, the Commissioner thanked the Women's Movement for their decades-long struggles to secure women's rights and promote gender equality in our country.
(AA/MS/EATH)
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