A bill providing for drafting policies with respect to the impact they can have on gender is currently being promoted, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday evening, addressing an event at the presidential palace dedicated to Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8.

Christodoulides said the bill was at the stage of legislative inspection by the Law Office and expressed hope that the parliament would pass it quickly.

The bill’s aim, he said, was for policies drafted by ministries, deputy ministries and organisations to take into consideration the different impact they could have on women and men.

“We have an obligation to implement policies that take gender into account and further facilitate women, so that they can continue to practice the roles and capacities they wish and contribute with their particular positive characteristics to our country, administration and any other sector of politics, business, sports, culture,” Christodoulides said.

He added that in the past two years, since he was elected, the participation of women in the cabinet and services surpassed 40 per cent of total representation.

“This is the highest percentage in the history of the Republic of Cyprus” and will continue to increase, he said.

The president referred to policies that have already been implemented regarding gender equality and various benefits offered.

Referring to demographics and ways to address the low birthrate, Christodoulides said the government had prepared a plan to support working mothers.

Equality commissioner Josie Christodoulou said one of the government’s priorities was to establish an equality culture.

“Our aim is to promote substantive gender equality and guarantee the human rights of women, which are preconditions for social and economic growth and progress,” she said.

Christodoulou said her office in cooperation with the finance ministry were drafting a gender state budget, which was an “ambitious project, albeit necessary”, as it provided for reducing poverty and inequalities based on gender and the economic development and equal participation of men and women in the economy and society.