For the first time this year, International Women's Day, finds Cypriot women united in an organized nationwide Cypriot action of claim and solidarity. The "It's the Hour" initiative invites all women of Cyprus to a one-hour work stoppage, on Friday, March 6 from 11:00 to 12:00 noon, asking them to stand next to each other outside work or their home sending a resounding message to Cypriot society and the State.
Alternatively, those who may be invited to participate in the human chains that will be formed in all cities with the participation of women. In Nicosia, the chain will start at the Supreme Court, pass through Parliament, the Ministry of Finance and end at the Presidential Palace. In Limassol the chain will start from the office of the District Administration, in Larnaca from Europe Square in front of the Headquarters and in Paphos from the Government Offices and through the 1st of April Street it will reach the City Hall.
"Let us show our presence through our absence" is the central message of the action, in which all women's organizations, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, universities, municipalities, public, semi-governmental and private bodies and organizations participate and support. Specifically, the action is supported by POGO, Women 's Group Protoporia, GODIK, Socialist Women' s Movement, GODISY, Equal Rights, Equal Responsibilities, Women 's Movement of Ecologists, GYKO, Women' s Alliance. a.
CLEAR MESSAGES
The demands of the one-hour work stoppage are addressed both to the State and the institutions, as well as to the Cypriot society. According to the initiative:
IT'S TIME For equal pay and pensions
Women in Cyprus are paid on average 16% less than men for the same work. The pension gap is even bigger, reaching up to 38%. Women are more likely to be in the spectrum of poverty and social exclusion.
IT'S TIME For equal opportunities at work
While women excel in education and are hired with more qualifications, they remain stagnant and inferior professionally, forming a minority in senior and top management positions, corporate boards and promotions.
IT'S TIME TO END THE VIOLENCE
The killings, beatings and rapes of women and girls are not a law that can not be changed. The fight against all forms of gender-based violence starts with a change in the attitude of the institutions, the culture of the media and the mentality, but also the position of authority of the society and each citizen individually.
IT'S TIME For work-life reconciliation structures
Working parents do not have adequate childcare services - afternoon school, reliable transportation for afternoon classes, babysitting services, free support for children with learning disabilities, services for children with disabilities - resulting in bearing all the burden . Statistics show that mothers are disproportionately heavier.
IT'S TIME For equality in decision-making centers
In cabinets, in parliament, in political parties, in local government, in appointments to decision-making centers and in senior political and economic positions, women constitute a minimal and almost negligible minority. Women today in Cyprus are represented in percentages below 17%, depending on the position.
IT'S TIME For training in healthy relationships
Access to sex education programs at all levels of education is a fundamental human right of children. Education in healthy and safe relationships equips children with skills that protect them from violence, exploitation, coercion and abuse.
IT'S TIME For legislation and structures
It is time for an immediate promotion of the bill that addresses effectively and with deterrent punishments all forms of violence against women. The bill, after the legal inspection, was forwarded to the Ministry of Justice and we expect it to be sent to parliament for a vote.
It is time to promote the "House of Women" as a priority, which was announced by the Government but never went ahead. The "Home" will gather all the necessary services for victims of violence - medical, psychological, legal, forensic and others - under one roof in conditions of security and protection.
It is time to implement the Istanbul Convention which has been ratified by the Republic of Cyprus. The Convention is a comprehensive legal framework that is the first binding instrument internationally to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women, to protect victims, but also to impose severe penalties on perpetrators.
More information on the page It's time
Source: philenews