The Commissioner for Gender Equality and President of the National Machinery for Women’s Rights, Josie Christodoulou, has completed a round of meetings with parliamentary parties ahead of the 2026 elections, placing the equal participation of women and men in politics firmly on the agenda.
Christodoulou, accompanied by members of the National Machinery, met with DISY President Annita Demetriou, AKEL Parliamentary Spokesman Giorgos Loukaides, DIKO President Nicolas Papadopoulos, EDEK President Nikos Anastasiou, and the President of the Green Party, Stavros Papadouris.
The Commissioner stressed that while women currently make up 37% of the Cabinet, they represent only 14% of the House of Representatives, remain underrepresented in local government, and have no presence at all in the European Parliament. She voiced concern that women’s representation could fall even further in the upcoming parliamentary elections, warning that the absence of equal representation for half the population constitutes a “democratic deficit.”
Discussions with the parties focused on more effective measures and institutional reforms to boost female participation. Among the proposals raised were binding gender quotas for candidate lists and party organs, the establishment of a women’s and youth political academy under the auspices of parliament, and closer cooperation among parties to legislate mandatory quotas as a temporary but necessary corrective measure.
Christodoulou also emphasized the need to create a safe, gender-sensitive political environment. Suggestions included the provision of childcare facilities near parliament and party offices, and the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy on sexism and sexual harassment, modeled on the European Parliament, where members who do not sign the declaration cannot chair committees.
Additional proposals included allocating part of the state subsidy parties receive specifically to women’s organizations, and reinstating the Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunities as a standalone body dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights. Alternatively, she suggested that the existing Human Rights Committee should systematically include women’s rights issues on its agenda at least twice a month.
Christodoulou pledged to continue her efforts to strengthen gender equality in political life and called on political parties to show the same commitment, ensuring the equal participation of all citizens in shaping the country’s future.