Programs
A. CGEO applied for undertaking of a project on the reconciliation of family and professional responsibilities of the Community Initiative EQUAL, and which was ranked first in its aim.
The project “Open Doors” aimed:
• In forming a new business culture and in developing family – friendly forms of work with the support of companies capable to integrate relevant strategies in their daily operation and adjust “Reconciliation Plans”, to develop friendly business culture to women, to develop a suitable working environment.
• In developing the necessary support mechanisms and structures in order to offer services to women and also estimate the potential contribution of these structures in eliminating gender discrimination and promoting reconciliation of professional and family life.
• At presenting and disseminating experiences and good practices coming from the application of “reconciliation plans” within businesses
• To the presentation of a new/innovative profession (Equality consultant) appropriate for the public and private sector, NGO’s.
• To change the lifelong social collective consciousness concerning the social position of women and to remove prejudices and stereotypes which are associated to gender. It also aimed to the distribution of the family’s social roles and/or in the labour market
• To influence and propose good practices for the reconciliation of family and work life to the policy making bodies.
Developmental partnership ELANI: Cyprus Gender Equality Observatory – GGEO (Coordinator body), The Nation Machinery for Women’s rights (Ministry of Justice), Ministry of Labour, Union Of Bank employees (ETYK), Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (ΟΕΒ), Saint Athanasios Municipality, Holiday Inn Limasol, Socialist Women’s Movement, Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS).
B. The programme “Youth Against Discrimination” that was integrated in the European DG EMPL/D/3 Anti-discrimination Action officially started on the 1 / 9 / 2005 and ended on the 1 / 9 / 2006
Its implementation was undertaken by:
1) The Cyprus Gender Equality Observatory (coordinating body)
2) Τhe Ministry of Justice and Public Order (National Mediator)
3) Τhe Ministry of Culture and Civilisation.
13 Secondary Education School Units with the relevant 2nd grade of the Lyceum (13)
And 39 Teachers, men and women (39)
The implementation of the Project followed the following phases always in accordance with the initial design.
Phase 1: Training / information / awareness - raising of six specialised professionals (psychologists, sociologists / social workers) in order to act supportively to the work of the school units and as mediators between the school units and the Project Team, to encourage and strengthen the teachers in their Work, to collect the research data that arose as well as the outcome of the project. Finally, they contributed to the design and the realisation of the final forum as well as to the Promotion and Publicity Activities.
Phase 2: Training / information / awareness - raising of men and women t t
teachers
Phase 3: Instructive interventions application and realisation of shows in the 13 School Units
Phase 4: Organisation of a Forum during which:
a) Scientific announcements were made on issues with relation to racism, xenophobia, racism etc.
b) The activities of the school units were presented
c) Pupils presented anti-racist, anti-sexist, artistic activities.
d) The project team closed the Forum.
During the project:
a) A special set of educational material was formed, based on the 2000/78 ΕC and 2000/43/ ΕC European directives, and consequently on all European strategies against discrimination as well as on the presentations of the academics, on articles, texts etc.
b) 10 types of ‘‘awareness - raising exercises’’ for teachers and pupils were formed
c) 4 scientific investigation tools of the factor ‘‘discriminations’’ in the classroom were produced.
d) The pupils produced 2 instructive interventions and interventionist activities evaluation tools.
e) 4 work sheets (teachers’ diaries (Design – implementation - evaluation) were produced.
f) Teachers formed13 deliverables describing their choices and actions
Evaluation of the Project
The project was evaluated by the University of the Aegean as innovative (a relevant evaluation report was filed and it was conveyed to the competent implementing bodies). It was assessed that it met in full the goals its design had set, that it corresponded to the European perspectives and requirements and that it covered more than enough its indicators (school units, teachers, schoolboys / schoolgirls). The tools were estimated as positive in relation to their scientific adequacy, weighing – up and effectiveness, while the ‘‘awareness - raising exercises’’ were characterised as original, realistic and scientific.
C. A project which is part of the Cyprus campaign for the European year of equal opportunities was utilised and which aimed at equal pay for equal or of same value work and the methodology of evaluating professions.
• Informing and awareness raising of Public Opinion
- Publishing of announcements for CGEO actions
- Charges and announcements for discriminations against the woman.
- Distribution of CGEO informative material in workplaces.
CGEO monitors daily the Mass Media and intervenes with its announcements and written complaints.
• Cooperation with Government Departments and NGOs
CGEO cooperates with the Welfare Office, the Ministry of labour, the Administration Commissioner (Ombudsman), the Human Resources Development Authority, the Association for the Prevention of Violence in the family, the Movement for Equality Support and Antiracism (KISA) and all the Trade Union and Women’s Organisations.
• European and International Relations:
The Cyprus Gender Equality Observatory maintains close relations with organizations which deal with the promotion of the equality of the genders on a European and international level.
• Participation in large Pancyprian events:
CGEO participated actively in events against racism and during the visit of the convoy against discriminations (July 2005).
• Operation of District cores:
Informative educational meetings for the CGEO cores take place at regular intervals.
The Cyprus Gender Equality Observatory has proceeded to prepare a chart for the incorporation of the dimension of gender in all the policies of the trade union organizations, after conducting a survey for the participation of women in the decision making bodies of the trade union organizations of Cyprus. The chart was sent to all the trade union organizations, which were also invited to a dialogue.
In October 2005 by initiative of CGEO a meeting of the Developmental Partnerships of the European project EQUAL took place, in order to coordinate the actions which concern the promotion of the equality of the genders.
In addition various organizations and persons have requested cooperation with CGEO, which is willing to cooperate with all the bodies and NGOs.
