Strengthening female representation in leadership is vital, Cyprus’ House President, Annita Demetriou said in a discussion in the Women Political Leaders Summit in Athens, according to a statement by the House of Representatives.
She also noted that the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women were among her and the House of Representatives’ top priorities.
Demetriou, in her capacity as the Ambassador of the Network of Women Political Leaders on behalf of the House of Representatives, was the main speaker at a round table discussion on reinventing leadership for the 21st century.
During the discussion, according to the announcement, there was an exchange of views on the ways politicians respond to the emerging needs and expectations of their voters, the opportunities and challenges arising due to technological developments, the ways to restore citizens’ trust in democratic institutions, as well as the steps policy makers can take to enhance transparency and accountability.
Demetriou, it s
aid, referred to the obstacles she faced in her capacity as the first and youngest female Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, ‘underlining that strengthening female representation in leadership is vital’. She noted that all women worldwide face the same obstacles on the way to assuming leadership positions, it adds.
It also said that Demetriou noted that the statistical data demonstrate the reversal of the progress and the rights women gained in gender equality field, as a result of the armed conflicts unfolding worldwide, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ignition in the Middle East and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The House President stressed the need ‘to send a resounding political message’ for setting gender equality issues as a priority in the debates on ending wars, defending human rights and the prevalence of peace. ‘In this context, Mrs. Demetriou emphasised the need for the immediate implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on the situation
of women in armed conflicts, as well as raising public awareness on the need for gender balance in politics and leadership through the promotion of female role models and strong networks of cooperation among women’, the announcement said.
The President of the Parliament, it adds, ‘stressed’ that the joint action of the Cypriot women deputies resulted in the adoption by the House of Representatives of pioneering legislation to combat sexism and the criminalisation of the offence of femicide.
Demetriou also said that, despite the underrepresentation of women in the House of Representatives and the ideological differences between the political parties, ‘Cypriot women parliamentarians are united in promoting gender equality’. She also referred to the joint initiative she undertook with the President of the German Federal Parliament for establishing regular meetings of Women Speakers of Parliaments of EU member countries, it said.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the President of the Parliament attended a workin
g lunch with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Theodoros Rousopoulos, with whom she discussed current international issues of mutual interest, the statement concludes.
Source: Cyprus News Agency