Female participation in the technology sector needs strengthening, gender equality commissioner Josie Christodoulou said on Monday, arguing that gender equality was a prerequisite for the creation of a fair and safe digital environment.

“The question is not whether women have a place in the digital future. The question is whether we can ensure that they also have the power to shape it,” Christodoulou said, speaking at a Women4Cyber event.

Referring to the participation of women in technology, she cited Eurostat data for 2025, according to which in Cyprus men constitute 85.1per cent of employees with education in information technology (IT), compared to just 14.9 per cent of women.

Christodoulou highlighted that this reveals a significant disparity, with 73.9 per cent of young women demonstrating basic digital skills compared to 55.1 per cent of young men.

This contradiction, she said, demonstrates that women’s digital skills do not translate into corresponding participation in specialised technology professions, underlining the need to combat stereotypes and enhance opportunities for education and professional development.

The commissioner went on to stress algorithms, designed by humans, were not impartial and are continually trained using data that may include pre-existing biases and inequalities.

She then referred to gender-based digital violence, citing research by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

According to the data, girls aged 13 to 15 mainly face online bullying, mockery for appearance and the spreading of rumours, while those aged 16 to 18 experience even more serious forms such as sexual harassment, coercion or the use of deepfakes.

Christodoulou highlighted the need for prevention, protection, accountability and collaboration, including the active participation of men and boys to combat the phenomenon.

Christodoulou concluded that digital resilience should be measured not only by the protection of systems, but also by how safe, equal and free people feel within them.