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Tag: gender discrimination

  • Gender Perspective Essential in New Legislative Bill

    Gender Perspective Essential in New Legislative Bill

    A bill to integrate gender equality into the executive, legislative and judicial elements in the public and broader public sector was discussed at the House legal affairs committee on Wednesday.

    • A bill to integrate gender equality into the executive, legislative and judicial elements in the public and broader public sector was discussed at the House legal affairs committee on Wednesday.
    • Ioannou articulated that society expects the House of Representatives to address serious issues, highlighting the complexity of integrating gender perspectives into legislation.

    Gender equality commissioner Josie Christodoulou underscored the necessity of addressing the different needs of women and men during her comments after the meeting. “Women and men have different needs, and we should take into account the different impact of every policy or action and every bill on women and men,” she stated.

    Christodoulou highlighted that ensuring equality needed to be a fundamental aspect of drafting legislation and policies to eliminate gender-based discrimination. She cited the example of single parenting and the specific needs of women with disabilities as critical considerations that the proposal, submitted by House president Annita Demetriou, aims to address.

    Commendable practices already adopted in Cyprus, such as yellow parking spots for pregnant women and families with strollers, were mentioned by the commissioner as examples of how local government is beginning to take these needs into account.

    Furthermore, the commissioner pointed to successful incorporation of gender dimensions in policy processes elsewhere, including Vienna, where improved street lighting at night has resulted in increased female employment within the municipality.

    Disy MP Fotini Tsiridou echoed Christodoulou’s sentiments, calling for the gender dimension to be included in future legislation and policies to achieve “substantive equality”. She emphasised the importance of these efforts in realising full equality between the sexes.

    On the other hand, Elam MP Sotiris Ioannou expressed concerns about the practicality of the proposals. He questioned how women would be effectively supported through the measures outlined. Additionally, he raised a point regarding the term “feminist legal thought” mentioned in the proposal’s explanatory memorandum, asserting his party’s belief that “gender is biological”.

    Ioannou articulated that society expects the House of Representatives to address serious issues, highlighting the complexity of integrating gender perspectives into legislation.

  • Court Rules Fire Service Discriminated Against Female Firefighter in Landmark Case

    Court Rules Fire Service Discriminated Against Female Firefighter in Landmark Case

    A female firefighter has successfully claimed €10,000 in damages after a court found the Fire Service discriminated against her by denying her training that was provided to her male counterparts and forcing her to wear oversized boots for three years.

    • In 2018, she initiated legal proceedings against the Fire Service through her lawyer E. Korakidis, seeking €50,000 in damages for the discriminatory treatment she faced.

    Female firefighter: Ruling from the Labour Disputes Court

    The Labour Disputes Court in Paphos determined that the firefighter experienced direct gender discrimination during her tenure at the Paphos Airport Fire Station, where she served for three years and three months.

    Discriminatory Treatment and Oversized Boots

    The court revealed that the firefighter was provided with special airport fire boots in size 42, despite her wearing a size 39. Additionally, she was systematically denied training on newer airport fire vehicles between late October 2015 and early January 2018, while her male colleagues received this crucial training.

    Timeline of Events

    The firefighter began her career with the Police on 6 April 2009, transitioning to the Fire Service on 27 July 2009. Following her placement at Paphos Fire Station, she quickly became aware of the disparities in treatment compared to her male colleagues.

    In 2018, she initiated legal proceedings against the Fire Service through her lawyer E. Korakidis, seeking €50,000 in damages for the discriminatory treatment she faced.

    Claims of Intimidation

    In her testimony, the firefighter also detailed experiences of violent and intimidating behaviour from a male sergeant, who she claimed was protected by her superiors. Furthermore, she highlighted that her transfer to Paphos Airport was executed without the necessary approvals, leading to significant personal costs in travel, which were not compensated by the Fire Service.

    Legal Proceedings and Arguments

    The Attorney General’s office contested the claims, arguing that the allegations of gender discrimination were unfounded and that the claims fell outside of the one-year period permitted by law. They maintained that the issues raised pertained to a civil servant-public authority relationship, which they believed did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Labour Court.

    Court Findings on Discrimination

    Despite the Attorney General’s arguments, the judges—E. Konstantinou (president), S. Delitsikkou, and M. Filippidis—conducted a thorough analysis of the testimonies and applicable gender discrimination laws. While they dismissed claims of a hostile environment for female firefighters, they confirmed that the plaintiff was indeed discriminated against on two significant grounds: the lack of training on new fire vehicles and the provision of ill-fitting boots.

    Compensation for Moral Harm

    In their decision, the judges awarded compensation solely for the moral harm caused by the direct discrimination the firefighter endured. They assigned €6,000 for the failure to provide training on new airport fire vehicles and €4,000 for the oversized boots. This total compensation also includes interest accrued since 2014.

    Significance of the Ruling

    This landmark case marks the first instance where a firefighter has successfully secured damages for gender discrimination against the Fire Service. The ruling underscores the ongoing challenges faced by women in traditionally male-dominated fields and highlights the importance of equal treatment and opportunities in the workplace.

    Gender Equality in Cyprus

    In the broader context of gender equality, Cyprus ranks last in the European Union, indicating significant gaps in women’s rights and equal treatment in various sectors. The court’s ruling may serve as a catalyst for further discussions and reforms aimed at addressing these disparities.