Gender equality is a “fundamental and non-negotiable human right”, Justice Minister Marios Hartiotis said in his message to mark International Women’s Day on Saturday.

He said the day “reminds us … that it is imperative to eliminate entrenched gender stereotypes and prejudices which reproduce and perpetuate inequalities and discrimination against women”.

He pointed out that this year marks 30 years since the signing of the Beijing declaration, which was signed at the end of the United Nations’ fourth world conference on women and aimed to promote a set of principles concerning gender equality.

The Beijing declaration, he said, is “the most progressive and widely accepted roadmap for the rights of women and girls worldwide”.

“The assessment demonstrates that progress in women’s rights is significant and promising, but at the same time, it highlights that much more needs to be done to achieve full and meaningful equality between men and women,” he said.

In Cyprus, he said, “significant progress has been made in the adoption and implementation of policies, measures and actions to promote gender equality and combat gender-based violence” in the last two years.

One example he gave was the creation of the government’s national strategy for gender equality as evidence of its commitment to the cause.

He added that the issues of gender equality and “combating online gender-based violence against girls” are expected to be prominent features of Cyprus’ tenure as the holder of the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency in the first half of next year.

“Today recalls the struggle and the important achievements of Cypriot women and strengthens our efforts to implement the principle of equality in all areas of life without exception,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday morning, President Nikos Christodoulides had also published a video on social media in which he outlined the policies of his government which he believes are of most use to Cypriot women.