A proposed law discussed in the Parliamentary Legal Committee, which seeks to alter the definitions of “woman” and “gender” in anti-violence legislation, has drawn sharp criticism from trans rights advocates, legal authorities, and equality bodies, who argue that it threatens fundamental protections under EU and international law.
According to its sponsors, the amendment is necessary to align these terms with European Parliament and Council Directive (EU) 2024/1385, as well as the Istanbul Convention. The proposal is co-signed by MPs Haris Georgiades (DISY) and Chrysis Pantelidis (DIKO).
Nicosia MP Alexandra Attalidou, said that the proposal removes fundamental rights from trans individuals and “is based on a fundamental deception.”
“The sponsors claim to harmonize with European legislation, while in reality they flagrantly violate it,” she said, noting that Directive 2024/1385 and the Istanbul Convention explicitly protect trans and gender-diverse individuals from discrimination.
Attalidou emphasized that the proposal violates the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the international obligations of the Republic of Cyprus.
“The protection of women cannot be built by stripping rights from others. Human rights are non-negotiable,” she said, adding that the proposal “instrumentalizes equality issues” ahead of elections.
In statements after the Committee session, ELAM MP Sotiris Ioannou argued that “common sense has been abandoned” and that “obvious definitions have lost their meaning.”
He stated that gender is determined by human physiology and biology and is not a matter of choice or self-identification. He added that ELAM supports any initiative that “restores things to their natural order, based on real biology.”
Stefanos Evangelides, representative of ACCEPT Cyprus, described the proposal as legally incompatible with European acquis and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
He noted that the Directive and the Istanbul Convention explicitly state that women include trans and intersex individuals, as well as women from vulnerable groups.
Evangelides expressed surprise that, while all institutions, the Commissioner for Equality, the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Legal Service, the Ministry of Justice, and civil society organizations, were clear that the proposal is flawed, the two MPs persist.
He warned that if the amendment proceeds, Cyprus will face problems in the Council of Europe, and called on MPs to “read more” and “follow the country’s European obligations.”
Elena Evagorou, representative of the women’s movement POGO, expressed curiosity about the motivation behind the submission of the proposal.
Source: CNA