The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) today released the results of its Gender Equality Index for the year 2022. The Gender Equality Index is a comprehensive measure to monitor progress on gender equality in the EU over time. It gives more visibility to areas that need improvement and ultimately supports policy makers to design more effective gender equality measures.
The average gender equality score in the EU has risen to 68.6% from 68% in 2021. For Cyprus, the gender equality index rose from 57% in 2021 to 57.3%. Cyprus dropping one place in the final ranking of the 27 EU Member States is ranked 22nd in the Gender Equality Index. Its score is 11.3 points lower than that of the EU.
Since 2010, Cyprus' score has increased by 8.3 points, mainly due to improvements in the area of power (+14.7 points). The speed of its progress was above the EU average (5.5 points), moving up four places in the ranking. However, our country's score remains essentially unchanged (+ 0.3 points) from 2019. The marginal increase in the overall score since the last edition of the Index is mainly due to improvements in the area of knowledge (+ 1.8 points).
The analysis of the European Gender Equality Index 2022 for Cyprus reveals the following:
- Best performance
Cyprus is ranked 13th among the Member States in the area of money, with a score of 83.1 points. Within this domain, the country performs best in the financial situation sub-sector, where it is ranked 12th with a score of 91.7 points. Since 2019, Cyprus' score in the money domain has stagnated (+ 0.5 points). During this period, progress in the financial situation sub-sector (+ 1.9 points) was offset by a decline in the financial resources sub-sector (- 0.8 points).
- Margin of improvement
Gender inequalities are most pronounced in the power sector (30.1 points), where Cyprus ranks 24th. With a score of 22.8 points, the greatest room for improvement is in the sub-sector of economic decision-making, where Cyprus has a score of 22.8 points and ranks 24th. However, despite the highest score (34.6 points), in the sub-sector of political decision-making the country ranks the lowest (26th). The general stagnation of the country in recent years (+ 0.1 points since 2019) is mainly due to the regression in the sub-sector of social decision-making (- 2.0 points), which has cancelled out the improvements in the sub-sector of political decision-making (+ 2.3 points).
- Largest improvement
Since 2019, Cyprus' score has improved most in the knowledge domain (+ 1.8 points), marking the largest increase among all Member States. As a result, the country has moved up six places in the ranking, currently ranking 15th. This improvement is mainly due to the reduction of segregation in education, which resulted in an increase in the score in this sub-sector (+ 2.6 points) and improved Cyprus' ranking from 26th to 20th place.E - Cyprus for the year 2022 in percentages:
Thematic Sector European Union Cyprus
Work 71.7% 69.9%
Money 82.6% 83.1%
Knowledge 62.5% 57,8%
Time 64,9% 51,3%
Power 57,2% 30,1%
Health 88,7% 87,0%
Violence -- --
(Note.: there is no score for the thematic area of violence. Eurostat is currently coordinating a pan-European survey on gender-based violence, with results expected in 2023.)
The above comparison shows, as in the EU, that the lowest scoring area for yet another year is that of power and women's access to decision-making positions, both in the political and economic sectors.
Balanced participation in decision-making positions and women's professional empowerment - Reconciling work and family responsibilities remain among our priorities at national level and are key priority objectives also in the new National Action Plan for equality between men and women 2019-2023.
The biggest challenge is not to wait 60 years to reach full equality between men and women but to continue and strengthen policies for full equality so that we reach the desired results faster.
But as long as gender equality bodies are scattered, as long as the responsible body lacks administrative structure, adequate resources and executive power it is very likely that for Cyprus 60 years will not be enough for full and effective equality between men and women.
(OP/EHRP)
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