There is a long way until we reach substantial gender equality, Commissioner of Gender Equality Josie Christodoulou said Tuesday, addressing the Women in STEM, Cyprus Forum event.

She said that Cyprus ranks 21st amongst EU member states when it comes to gender equality and the 2024 UN report on Gender Equality and SDGs ranks Cyprus 39th across the world, noting that there is a steady progress towards reaching the 2030 goals. The World Economic Forum report 2024 upgraded Cyprus, to the 86th place from the 106th, she said.

"We must use these reports as tools to improve the daily lives of both women and men as it is not about competition between women and men either. It is a matter of investing in and use of the different skills and experiences of both women and men to build stronger economies and fairer, democratic societies", the Commissioner noted.

She also noted that figures show that almost 24% of students graduate in STEM subjects and most of them are men. According to the Commissioner, in Cyprus, there is growing interest, of more than 55% of women and men graduates.

"According to Eurostat, in 2022, women accounted for 44% of total employment in science and engineering in Cyprus. According to these data, the number of women in this category of jobs in Cyprus increased by about 3,500 in 2022 compared to 2021. On the EU level, there was an increase of more than 310,000", she said.

The Commissioner also said that we need balanced participation because the policies we design, the decisions we make and the actions we take, have a different impact on women and men.

"We must continue creating an environment that will allow girls and boys to shape their future based on their own skills and interests. At the same time, we must safeguard their equal access to the means to materialize their aspirations and explore their potential. In this effort, as I said at the beginning, everyone has a part, the government, the private sector and many other stakeholders", the Commissioner said in her address.