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It is my great pleasure and
honour to address today’s event celebrating International Women’s Day,
organised by the Sovereign Base Areas Administration, at Episkopi.
Thank you for the invitation
and for the opportunity to be here and contribute to highlighting the
importance of inclusivity and the empowerment of women, not only within the
environmental and agricultural sectors, but across all facets of society and
work environments. I do hope that my speech will provide invaluable insights
to today’s esteemed audience, which is notably diverse, encompassing UK
military and civilian personnel, Cypriot staff and contractors who work with
British Forces Cyprus and members of the wider community.
I wish to extend my
congratulations to the Sovereign Base Areas Administration and in particular
to its Administrator and Commander of the British Forces Cyprus, AVM Pete
Squires, and Chief Officer of the Sovereign Base Areas, Mrs Clare Simpson,
for hosting this event and formal dinner that will follow. Such events form
part of celebrations worldwide for the triumphs of women across social,
economic, cultural and political spheres, reminding us of the progress made
towards gender equality and highlighting, at the same time, the ongoing
efforts required to continue this progress.
This year's campaign theme,
“Inspire Inclusion”, highlights the significance of embracing diversity and
promoting empowerment across various sectors of society and all aspects of
life. At the same time, it points to the vital role of inclusion towards achieving
gender equality, urging initiatives to remove obstacles, confront stereotypes
and create societies where every woman is appreciated and respected.
Furthermore, “Inspire Inclusion” motivates individuals to acknowledge and
value the distinct insights and contributions of women from diverse
backgrounds, especially those from under-represented groups.
As clearly stated in the
programme of governance of the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos
Christodoulides, the horizontal promotion of gender equality across all
aspects of society is a top priority for the Republic of Cyprus and for the
President himself. To this end, a new National Strategy on Gender Equality
has been approved by the Council of Ministers and was entered into force in
January 2024, which aims at a horizontal gender mainstreaming in government
policies. Furthermore, the Government’s Ministers, Deputy Ministers and
Commissioners signed and adopted a Policy Declaration on gender equality and
zero tolerance for any sexist or harassing behaviours based on gender, taking
a step further in their efforts to accelerate the promotion of equality between
women and men in our country.
Εven though progress has been
made across the globe regarding gender equality, discrimination against women
continues to exist in the world of business. No country in the world or in
the European Union (EU) has achieved substantive and complete gender equality.
The continued existence of discrimination against women in the workplace
reflects deeply rooted social structures and cultural beliefs that reproduce
gender inequalities. Despite progress made in eliminating discrimination,
women continue to face significant barriers in their professional advancement
and in achieving equality in terms of both their compensation and the
opportunities available to them.
In Cyprus, this is evidenced by
the fact that women are paid 9.7% less than men. The wage gap is found to
vary by professional activity, where according to the Statistical Service
(2018) it amounts to 13.6% among managerial staff, men and women. This gap
reflects not only the differences in pay for the same or equivalent work, but
also the different opportunities for advancement and taking on leadership
roles. Beyond the wage gap, there continues to be professional segregation
into "male-dominated" and "female-dominated" professions,
where the latter are usually paid lower. This segregation is directly linked
to the educational choices made by girls and boys, which are influenced by
cultural stereotypes and social expectations.
It is noted that, as part of
its obligation, the Republic of Cyprus will incorporate into its national law
two European directives concerning pay transparency and the introduction of a
quota for the participation of the under-represented gender in the boards of
directors of companies listed on the stock exchange with a large number of
employees. The Republic of Cyprus will contribute in this way to bridging the
gender gap. In the same direction, the Office of the Commissioner for Gender
Equality, through awareness campaigns, promotes women in professions where
there appears to be reduced participation.
Another critical aspect of
gender equality that needs to be addressed is the fact that women are more
vulnerable to crises than men. The Covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis
have demonstrated that women are affected more severely and in different ways
by crises compared to men. At the same time, women are less represented in
decision-making centres dealing with the management of these crises.
In my capacity as Minister of
Environment, and in my previous capacity as Commissioner for the Environment,
I have come to learn that gender equality and environmental protection are
two topics that are inextricably linked. In reality, both are implemented or
should be implemented horizontally in every aspect and manifestation of our
daily lives. At the same time, the measurable impact of climate crisis on
gender equality has already been recorded: Women are often more vulnerable to
the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather disasters and
environmental degradation. The impacts manifest in various ways, from
increased health risks due to climate-related diseases to increased economic
vulnerability, particularly in poor or rural areas. Also, women in many
societies have limited access to resources and opportunities, which can have
negative effects on their ability to participate in decisions affecting the
environment. Additionally, inequality in the distribution of both resources
and benefits from sustainable development is often problematic. Finally,
access to education for women is directly related to their ability to
participate in environmental initiatives as education empowers women to
contribute to environmental protection.
Therefore, in light of the
climate crisis, it is imperative that we take the necessary measures to
address its consequences from a gender perspective. Integrating both the
environmental impact and the gender perspective in all aspects of policies
and initiatives can ensure preventive action to reduce environmental
pressures and all forms of inequality. At the same time, we must inform and
raise awareness among women about the impact of climate change on gender
equality and encourage women’s participation in actions and initiatives
concerning the management of climate crisis.
On another note, female
entrepreneurship in Cyprus has already shown positive signs and is a sector
that needs to be supported in order to develop fully and effectively with all
the benefits this entails for innovation, job creation and strengthening the
position of women in society. In my capacity as Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development, promoting and encouraging female entrepreneurship in the
agricultural sector is one of my priority goals. I have been privileged to
witness firsthand the entrepreneurial spirit of women who are the backbone of
our rural communities, protecting the environment and working towards
sustainable development. Women in the agricultural sector have already proven
that they enhance the sustainability and productivity of agriculture. Many
female farmers focus on sustainable farming practices, contributing to
environmental protection and the promotion of organic farming. Additionally,
female entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector can strengthen local
communities, creating economic opportunities and promoting local products and
consumption. It is particularly encouraging that the number of women
interested in receiving subsidies, as part of the Rural Development
Programme, either as heads of agricultural operations or as heads of
agricultural product processing units, is increasing over time. A
characteristic example is the significant number of spoon sweets
manufacturing units that operate fully adhering to the principles of the
circular economy.
Finally, given that this year's
campaign focuses on breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes, it is
important to highlight that women often face stereotypical perceptions
regarding their leadership abilities, which may lead to more frequent questioning
of their decisions compared to their male counterparts. This is supported by
research, which shows that women in managerial positions are more easily
questioned regarding their decisions and appear to be accountable for much
more than their male peers.
Another difficulty that affects
all working women, not only those in managerial positions, is the "glass
ceiling" phenomenon. Women often encounter invisible barriers to their
promotion to higher positions. This includes balancing their professional and
personal life. Traditional gender roles often place the greater burden of
family obligations on women, limiting the time and energy they can dedicate
to their professional advancement. Quantitative data confirm that women's
personal time is more limited than that of men, which is directly related to
perceptions and the stereotypical roles attributed to and expected of men and
women in society.
Therefore, as a State, we are
working, according to the programme of governance, to promote gender
equality, empower women and create a fairer and more balanced working
environment. Specifically, in the new National Strategy on Gender Equality,
coordinated by the Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality, actions
are included that aim to empower women at various levels and contribute to
the reconciliation of professional and personal life. Among other things, the
Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality contributes, through strategic
partnerships, to the efforts of private companies to proceed with the
implementation of action plans with the goal of shaping a gender-sensitive
environment in companies, respecting the different needs of men and women and
recognising that women and men contribute equally to their professional
fields. Additionally, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare promotes care
structures for the elderly, childcare centres and adult care centres for
individuals with long-term care needs, structures that will contribute to the
reconciliation of family and professional life for both female and male
employees.
Today we celebrate the
diversity of roles that women play not just on our island, but across the
globe. From the fields to the classrooms, from the laboratories to the
boardrooms, women can lead the way in creating a sustainable future for our
planet. Our aim is not only to increase understanding and appreciation for
women’s inclusion, but to inspire each one of us, regardless of gender, to
advocate for and enact change. Inclusion is not a women's issue; it is a
human issue. And it is crucial for the sustainability of our communities, our
economies and our environment.
(EN/GS/EP)
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