The horizontal implementation of the gender dimension has already begun, President, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Friday addressing the Signing Ceremony of the Policy Declaration on Gender Equality, which took place at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia. It is noted that the Policy Declaration on Gender Equality was signed by the President and all members of the government.

President Christodoulides noted that he expects the Policy Declaration to be implemented in practice in the Ministries and Deputy Ministries.

He said that the substantial promotion of equality between women and men on a practical level and not just on a theoretical level "is a basic principle and value of every country that wants to be counted among democracies, every country that respects basic human rights and therefore stands high to the priorities of our government, but also to me personally."

In order to achieve the goals of the government and subsequently the Code of Ethics approved by the Council of Ministers on October 11, 2023, President Christodoulides invited the Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Commissioners to sign and adopt the Policy Declaration on Gender Equality, which is also endorsed by the Commissioner for Gender Equality.

The Declaration, indicated the President of the Republic, "constitutes an institutional declaration to promote equality between men and women and to prevent any form of gender discrimination, with the institutional commitment, from this moment onwards, that zero tolerance should be shown to any sexist and harassing attitudes on the basis of gender, in the activities and operation of each Ministry, Deputy Ministry and Commissioner's Office".

Addressing the Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Commissioners, President Christodoulides underlined that he expects them to implement the Policy Statement in practice in the Ministries and Deputy Ministries, indicating that "first and above all we must be role models through our behaviour, attitude and approach."

"The full implementation of what is recorded in the Declaration is another example of our determination to put into practice the principle of Gender Equality," he noted, adding that the Institutional Declaration is a practical commitment of the government that, based on the principle of gender equality, substantial measures are taken to ensure it, among the staff of the Ministries, Deputy Ministries and Commissioners' Offices and to anyone affected by their actions.

"The fight against gender discrimination is the responsibility of all of us and a collective effort to promote gender equality is required," he stressed. "We, as the government and high-ranking state officials, must be examples of cultivating and establishing the culture of equality every day," he underlined.

President Christodoulides also stated that "in an effort to strengthen and accelerate and more effectively promote gender equality, we have already proceeded to upgrade the role and importance of the Commissioner for Gender Equality, who, among other things, now has a coordinating role in the effort to implement the horizontal integration of the gender dimension, in cooperation with the Ministries and Deputy Ministries."

He also emphasised that "the horizontal implementation of the gender dimension has already begun to materialize, to be promoted more actively and more effectively through semiotic positions and practices." At the same time, he pointed out that targeted actions and policies are being promoted with the aim of establishing in practice equality between women and men and deconstructing any gender stereotypes and prejudices that take us years back.

On her part, Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, said that the Policy Declaration "aims to confirm our political will to promote gender equality, but also the zero tolerance shown by the government to any sexist or harassing behaviours on the basis of gender, both among the staff and visitors to the Ministries and Deputy Ministries."

To implement all of the above, the Commissioner went on to say, "we use the tool of integrating the gender dimension into the activities of each Ministry, Deputy Ministry and Commissioner's Office". A parallel goal, she added, is to inform that the integration of the gender dimension means the recognition of the different needs of women and men during planning, implementation, evaluation, and the impact of our policies and actions on both sexes. The ultimate goal, as she explained, is the creation of an environment for a healthy society and economy, equal for all.

In this direction, she added, all staff will be informed about the Policy Declaration, which will be posted in prominent positions in the Ministries and Deputy Ministries and on their websites, so that it is visible on a daily basis to the staff and visitors of the Ministries and Deputy Ministries. "Today, with the signing of the Policy Declaration, we are taking another step forward in our efforts to accelerate the promotion of equality between women and men in our country," she stressed.

Christodoulou pointed out that since March 2023 actions and policies have been adopted and implemented to promote equality between women and men and issues related to gender equality have been highlighted in all Ministries and Deputy Ministries. Furthermore, she expressed the opinion that the political will as well as the positive response shown by the Ministries and Deputy Ministries to every call of her Office to eliminate any form of gender discrimination are "an important element for changing attitudes and culture."

In addition, the Commissioner said that Cyprus remains low on the European Union's gender equality indicators. "The indicators are a tool, which can help us to improve," she noted, clarifying at the same time that we should not expect the ranking of Cyprus in indicators and reports for improvement regarding the promotion of equality between women and men.