Promoting women's rights strengthens the effort for full and substantial equality, which undoubtedly contributes to the well-being of societies and economic development, House President Annita Demetrious said Thursday, delivering a message before the Plenary on the occasion of International Women's Day.

 Demetriou said that the state defends the equal and democratic representation of women at all levels of public life, as well as the provision of equal opportunities for advancement, so that there is real equality between the two genders.

She said that everyday life shows however that women are still victims of gender discrimination and gender-based violence, which damages their dignity and significantly violates their rights at work and  elsewhere.

Demetriou went on to say that there is an urgent need to set specific targets to address the pay gap between men and women, to combat sexual harassment of women in the workplace or in public spaces, as well as to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence.

House President praised the role and actions of various organizations and added that the Parliament welcomes the implementation of the National Action Plan 2021-2025 with the aim of fully implementing Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace and Security", which was adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000.

She also referred to the legislation passed by the Parliament making femicide a crime punishable by life imprisonment as well as the criminalization of sexism, which strengthens the existing legislative framework in Cyprus.