Politis

Bill to Incorporate Gender Equality into State Budget for the Public Sector

Published February 12, 2026, 12:27
Bill to Incorporate Gender Equality into State Budget for the Public Sector

Cyprus is preparing to introduce gender-budgeting across the public sector, with the support of new legislation and specialized training. The Council of Ministers has already approved the “Gender Mainstreaming Act of 2025,” which will integrate gender equality into policy-making and the budget. The legislation will require the integration of the gender dimension into the preparation of policies, actions, legislative initiatives, and the state budget, as well as in public contracts. Tools such as the collection of gender-disaggregated data and gender impact assessments will be used. Commissioner for Gender Equality, Jozi Christodoulou, stated that this approach reflects the essence of modern governance and has already been incorporated into proposals for tax reform, such as relief for parents based on dependent children and equal relief for single-parent families. Cyprus is participating in the European Commission’s Gender Flagship Project and has created a Gender Action Plan, which has been implemented since September 2025. Training programs have been held for officials from the Budget and Fiscal Control Directorate, the Statistical Service, and other ministries, with an emphasis on gender impact assessments and the use of gender-specific statistics.