The voluntary enlistment of women in the National Guard constitutes an important step towards strengthening the defense of the Republic of Cyprus and at the same time recognizes the right of women to contribute equally to the security and defense of the homeland, said the Minister of Defense, Vassilis Palmas, in his statements following the conclusion of today's meeting of the Council of Ministers.
As he mentioned, the Council of Ministers, at its meeting today, approved the bill amending the National Guard law to make possible the voluntary enlistment of women in the National Guard, which was announced by the President of the Republic in September 2020.
"The voluntary enlistment of women in the National Guard is an important step in strengthening the defense of the Republic of Cyprus and at the same time recognizes the right of women to contribute equally to the security and defense of the homeland, proving that the contribution to the armed forces is based on values, abilities and the dedication and willingness of each individual to contribute," he noted.
He added that the decision to voluntarily enlist women in the National Guard "is practical proof that the armed forces are evolving, adapting to modern needs and making the most of the abilities of all those who choose to serve."
He added that in this context, 2025 has been designated as the "Year of Women in the National Guard" and is an initiative that aims to highlight the valuable role that women play in the army on an equal basis with their male colleagues, while recognizing and promoting their contribution at all levels, "from participation in combat units and operational missions, to their specialization in high-tech sectors, cyber defense, health services, as well as their activity in military diplomacy."
He also said that the proposed law has been approved by the Council of Ministers and is about to go to Parliament at a later stage to become a law of the State.
Regarding individual issues, such as when and how the classification will take place, he said that decrees will be issued and then there will be information on the procedure that will be followed.
Asked when it is estimated that the classification of women in the National Police could be implemented, Mr. Palmas said that the Ministry estimates the first classification to take place in early October 2025.
"We are considering whether we will do two rankings, one at the end of May to give older girls than those who will graduate from high schools, if and as long as they are interested, the opportunity to express interest in ranking, and for girls who will graduate in the summer of 2025, the ranking will be done in early October," he added.
When asked whether the classification of men and women will be done differently, the Minister said that the classification of women will not be done at the same time as men but at a different stage.
