Filenews 26 November 2020
The House of Commons unanimously passed three proposals for a law, the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Equal Opportunities between Men and Women, against sexism. 43 Members voted in favour.
One proposal for a law was tabled by Kutra Koukouma on behalf of the ACPL-Left-New Forces parliamentary group, the second by Anita Demetriou on behalf of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Alarm and the third on 17 July 2020 by Christiana Erokritou, MP for DIKO, Nicosia constituency
The three proposals introduce legislation to deal with public forms of sexism against a particular person or group of persons through the Criminal Law.
Sexism and sexist behaviour are also criminalised according to international conventions and recommendations, in order to address unacceptable phenomena that reduce, offend, isolate and promote discrimination against the person or group of persons against whom they are directed.
Legislation is also introduced where by which online sexism against a person or group of persons becomes a particular offence.
At the same time, an amendment was rejected by the Members of the DISY, Anitas Demetriou and DIKO Christiana Ertokritou, so that the words 'online sexism' and 'sexism' would delete, respectively, the phrase 'specific person or group of persons', where they respond, and replace them, respectively, with the phrase 'specific woman or a specific group of women'. With the proposed amendment, the offences of sexism and online widespread sexism were proposed to be directed against a woman or group of women who are victims of sexist behaviour and not generally against a person or group of persons, in order to give the legislation being passed the correct dogmatic dimension of the matter.
DISY MP Anita Demetriou said the law provides not only for the criminalisation of sexism but also for the appropriate education to be provided. He said the House has an obligation to regulate the legal framework for criminalising the offence of sexism, making citizens sociable in this effort. He also said that women and girls are disproportionately affected and that it is an obligation to demonstrate the issue in its true dimension.
ACPL MP K koukouma said that legislative recognition of sexism and sexist rhetoric is an intersection for Cyprus and will lead the country in protecting victims from such attacks. "Today we are building the consciences of the new generation of men and women," he said, adding that they show that sexism must also have consequences and should not be treated as a joke or something to be tolerated.
DIKO MP Christiana Erokritou said it was a historic day and noted that historically she is the woman subject to sexism and discrimination as a result of her gender.
EDEC MP Kostis Efstathiou said the party supports the laws since sexism is a disparaging behaviour, a oppression, and congratulated Ch. Erokritou and A. Demetriou on the amendment they tabled.
Solidarity MP Michalis Giorgis supported the bill, saying the three pieces of legislation are a principle, but noted that honour provisions are currently being passed and it is through education and other actions that attitudes need to change.
Source: eyenews/KYPE
