Cyprus “reaffirms its unwavering commitment” to advancing gender equality in science, technology and innovation as a cornerstone of sustainable development, the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michail, told an international gathering this week.
Speaking at the 11th Assembly of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust on 11 February, Michail said Cyprus is honoured to participate in a forum that highlights the role of women and girls in scientific fields.
Promoting their participation, she noted, is “essential for the protection of human rights.”
She pointed to Cyprus’s National Strategy for Gender Equality 2024–2026, which adopts a holistic approach to integrating gender perspectives across all government policies.
The aim, she said, is to move beyond rhetoric and implement actions that deliver “fair and measurable impact” for both women and men.
Calling gender equality a “structural prerequisite for sustainable development,” Michail said the strategy ensures that public policy, education systems and innovation frameworks remain inclusive and future‑oriented.
She highlighted targeted scholarship programmes for women over 30 to support retraining and entry into technology and innovation sectors, describing funding as a “decisive factor” for inclusion.
