International Women’s Day was marked by officials around the island on Tuesday with speeches and positive words for the island’s female population.

President Nicos Anastasiades on Twitter dedicated the day to “the woman-refugee who fights for her child. With respect, we wish strength for them to continue their struggle”.

House speaker YiannakisOmirou too extended his wishes through a Twitter profile. He said honour for women is the application of laws for “true equality and equal pay”.

In her message to mark the day, Commissioner for Gender Equality Iosifina Antoniou, said the day is a “tribute to and recognition of all those pioneer women who dared, fought and claimed their rights”.

“I want to express my unconditional appreciation and respect to all those women who struggle daily to achieve more,” Antoniou said.

She added that Cyprus has taken important steps in safeguarding gender equality both legally and institutionally, and it has ratified a number of conventions on human rights.

“It is obvious that the gap between the two genders has not been bridged, despite the progress made,” Antoniou said. She added that more still needs to be done.

Unions and political parties called for equality between the two sexes, and better opportunities and representation for women.

AKEL affiliated union PEO’s women’s branch delivered a memo to labour minister Zeta Emilianidou asking for the promotion of equality programmes and support of female employment.

The memo said women have been more affected by the financial crisis and austerity measures. It called for a settlement of the shop hours issue, parental leave for fathers, and extension of maternity leave.