The Minister of Justice and Public Order, Emyli Giolitis, described the elimination of violence against women and gender-based violence as extremely important, noting that "our goal will be to further improve and strengthen the measures taken over time to deal more effectively with incidents of violence against women ».
In her statements after the meeting with organizations and the National Mechanism for Women's Rights, at the Ministry, Ms. Gioliti thanked the organizations and the National Mechanism for Women's Rights for today's meeting, "which I wish to be the beginning of a fruitful dialogue between us on issues related to gender equality, an issue which is particularly high in the priorities of our Ministry ".
"A number of measures aimed at combating gender stereotypes and violence against women, protecting victims of gender-based violence and modernizing family law are already under way," he said.
The National Action Plan for Equality 2019-2023, noted, "which was approved by the Council of Ministers in September 2019, is one of our priorities."
"Our aim and purpose through the implementation of this Plan is the comprehensive and coordinated promotion of equality in the areas of women's participation in decision-making, women's economic and professional empowerment, the elimination of violence, the modernization of the legal framework. and the fight against gender stereotypes and social prejudices, "he added.
He stated that "the effort, however, is always collective, so that gaps or weaknesses that are observed are eliminated. Voluntary initiative, active participation and cooperation of all Women's Organizations is a necessary ally in this effort and to this end, I am convinced that the National Mechanism for Women's Rights is a very important institution, because it promotes cooperation between the state and society. . And synergies and cooperation on this sensitive issue that concerns the whole of society are of particular importance, in order to avoid regressions to what has been achieved so far, at national or European level ".
He pointed out that "despite the significant upgrade of the position and role of women in many areas in recent years, we still have a long way to go before we achieve equal participation of men and women in decision-making centers in politics and public life."
"On the issue of eliminating violence against women and gender-based violence, which I consider to be extremely important, our goal will be to further improve and strengthen the measures taken over time to deal more effectively with cases of violence against women," she said.
"The purpose, and let me repeat it, is common. And I am glad that we have Ms. Iosifina Antoniou in the position of Commissioner for Gender Equality, a position created as an innovative institution by President Anastasiadis in 2014, precisely because of the importance that this Government attaches to gender equality issues. "Ms. Antoniou has vast experience through her own action on the issue of gender equality and of course, through the National Mechanism for Women's Rights in which she chairs, you can immediately raise any issues you wish," she said.
In conclusion, said the Minister, "I am convinced that the pursuit of all of us is the further promotion of equality issues and for this, and I would like active involvement and action from your Organizations, because all of us who are here today recognize that this is very serious. issues that also reflect our culture as a society ".
Answering a question, Ms. Gioliti said that "there is a great inequality between men and women", adding that it is something that is observed not only in Cyprus but also at European and international level. "We are taking steps to fight inequality but we still have a long way to go," he said.
The Commissioner for Gender Equality, Iosifina Antoniou, stated in her statements that at today's meeting of the National Mechanism for Women's Rights, we exchanged with Ms. "Minister issues related to the women's movement, issues related to violence, equal participation, balanced participation of women and men in decision-making centers, the empowerment of women in economic life and many other issues that plague women."
"It was a very constructive meeting. I believe that working with the new Minister of Justice - a well-known woman who has proven to be successful in her professional field of law - will be very noble, very constructive and all women's organizations today have expressed their willingness to work with the new Minister to promote the issues of equality which is a common vision for all of us ".
Source: ANT1