Cyprus parliament passes gender mainstreaming law

The House of Representatives of Cyprus passed the 'Gender Mainstreaming Law of 2025' yesterday to integrate gender equality into public sector policies. The legislation requires authorities to consider the potential differential impact on men and women during the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public policies. The bill was approved with 28 votes in favor, while three members abstained: two from ELAM and independent MP Pavlos Mylonas. Amendments made by the Legal Affairs Committee now require the Commissioner for Gender Equality to submit an annual report to the parliamentary committee for review. Additionally, provisions for general executive decrees were removed in favor of formal regulations to ensure legal certainty. While proponents view the law as an essential framework for fairness, critics, including some political representatives, have expressed reservations regarding its practical effectiveness and potential impact on existing social issues. The legislation is presented by the government as a primary horizontal priority for economic and social decision-making.