President reiterates need to promote gender equality

President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday reiterated his intention to promote gender equality in Cyprus and eliminate discrimination against women as he received the annual report of the Commissioner for Gender Equality.

Anastasiades touched on the subject after receiving the report from commissioner Josephina Antoniou.

“While we are battling a global crisis, I want to reassure everyone that the promotion and the expansion of women’s rights is an absolute priority for the government and a basic principle of this country,” Anastasiades said.

He also congratulated Antoniou, praising her for her efforts “to mitigate and close the gap between genders with all the legislative tools at her disposal.”

However, he recognised there is still a long way to go in terms of reaching equality between men and women at all levels in society.

“I would like to believe that, day by day or year by year, perceptions are beginning to change and the role of women is finally acknowledged,” he said.

The current cabinet includes five women and Anastasiades said he hoped future ones would have more, and that similar progress would be seen in the House of Representatives.

“The majority of voters nowadays are women and party have realised that, in order for them to represent our society, women are crucial in their candidates’ selection process,” he concluded.