March 8 is a day to remember the timeless struggles and collective achievements of women around the world. Unfortunately, it has taken decades of continuous and intensive struggle for women to be able to enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms unhindered today.
On behalf of the State, I express my full appreciation and respect to all women of Cyprus without exception and assure them that the newly elected Government of Nicos Christodoulides will keep gender equality issues high on its political agenda. Providing equal opportunities for men and women at all levels and in all aspects of public and private life is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving substantial social change and progress.
As Minister responsible for Gender Equality and in particular for the prevention and combating of violence against women, I express my readiness to immediately promote and implement the first National Strategy and the first National Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Gender-based Violence, which were recently drafted, with a time horizon for implementation of the five-year period 2023-2028. These are documents and policy commitments that aspire to address holistically and comprehensively the complex problem of gender-based violence, based on victim-centred approaches that place women at the centre of their reform actions.
The Government intends to take immediate steps to institutionalise the institution of the Gender Equality Commissioner. Targeted actions will also be promoted in order to deconstruct outdated social and sexist stereotypes and perceptions that are the root cause of inequalities and discrimination against women. At the same time, measures and policies will be promoted to strengthen women's employment and entrepreneurship, reconcile the gender pay gap and reconcile women's personal, family and professional responsibilities.
The practical empowerment of women in the multiple and often heterogeneous roles they assume at personal and professional level is the cornerstone of efforts to ensure their quality and standard of living and well-being. It is also a key objective and necessity to strengthen women's digital skills in a constantly and rapidly evolving technological world and to achieve a balanced participation of men and women in decision-making positions in the public and political sphere.
As a State, we fully recognise and understand the multiple challenges and difficulties that mothers, working women, unemployed women, single parents, farmers, migrant women, refugee women and asylum seekers face on a daily basis, women who are most affected by poverty and social exclusion, older women, women with disabilities, women who face discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity and women who experience all forms of abuse and violations of their basic human rights.
Today is not a day for complacency and wishful thinking. It is a day of gratitude to each and every woman for her struggles and valuable contribution to society.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, I reassure all women that I will work to protect and promote their rights in a society of equality, inclusion, acceptance of diversity and non-negotiable respect for human rights.
(OP)
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