Committee II Cyprus The issues before Committee II are: 1.

Promotion of education and awareness as the main tools to effectively achieve sustainable development. 2. Gender and sustainable development 1. Promotion of education and awareness as the main tools to effectively achieve sustainable development The government of Cyprus recognizes that environmental problems are remain rooted in the socio-economic structure of the world economic system. The diversity of underlying natural, social, political, cultural and economic factors that precipitated the interlocking crises of our civilization, continue to be present1. The government of Cyprus acknowledges the importance of education and information as basic elements to effectively achieve sustainable development. Our country recognizes the necessity of the empowerment of the youth through educating, also, the enhancement of awareness of the citizens in addressing the issues concerning environment, energy, economy and countrys resources. Environmental education began in Cyprus in the mid-1990s, with the introduction of the European Programme "Ecological Schools", mainly in primary and secondary education. Over the current decade, environmental issues have been established as the focal point of education. Since 2005, Cyprus has adopted the European Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, the implementation commitments of which require the drafting of a National Educational Strategy for Sustainable Development2. Education in relation to sustainable development in Cyprus, is based on the EU 6th Environment Action Programme "Our Future, Our Choice", the revised EU Sustainable Development Strategy, the Lisbon Strategy and the Strategy on "Education for Sustainable Development in Europe: 2005 - 2015"3. The objective of the inclusion of sustainable development in the education is to produce citizens who are aware, active and environmentally responsible. Through this, citizens will be able to participate in decision making and actions that will protect and improve the environment. Recognizing the importance of education as a tool for Sustainable Development, the Cyprus government is aiming for: Citizens to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to participate in environmental actions. The development of educational procedures for environmental issues. The promotion of research on the various levels of education and sustainable development. The development of network cooperation on a national and international level, the exchange of opinions and the development of common actions for the promotion of sustainable development.
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Report on Some Priority Issues Concerning Sustainable Development and the Environment in Cyprus Sustainable Development Strategy, 2007, Cyprus 3 Report on Some Priority Issues Concerning Sustainable Development and the Environment in Cyprus

2. Gender and sustainable development The Beijing Conference has expanded the agenda on the human rights of women and, for Cyprus, it has given a new impetus to strengthen the political will and intensify the efforts towards legal and de facto equality which have been promoted in particular since the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, in 19854. The government of Cyprus acknowledges the need for equal participation of both men and women to achieve sustainable development. Our country fulfills its obligation of combating gender inequality by expanding womens rights. Our government is exerting effort to mainstream gender by implementation of gender policies and laws. The Ministry of Justice and Public Order is pursuing law reform in close collaboration with other agencies and organization, aiming at the elimination of the few remaining discriminatory provisions as well as the safeguarding of womens rights and their protection in all fields of Cyprus legislation5. In the field of labour law, a series of legal measures, aiming at the improvement and expansion of the legal rights and protection of women at work, have been pursued, covering the areas of maternity protection, social pension, social security, part-time work, etc6. The increase in the participation of women in public and political life and especially at the decision making level, is also one of the priorities of the Government policy in the field of equality. Measures taken in this field include the launching of training programmes to encourage women to enter politics; setting up of a cross-political citizens group to lobby and campaign for equal representation of women and men in politics; sensitization of the mass media; and appointment of women in high ranking posts7. A very important development has also been the setting up of the International Eco-peace Village of Cyprus. This Trust NGO has an international vision to contribute to the broader peace goals of Cyprus and other countries in the region and internationally. Its mission is to create an eco-sensitive, international peace village, focusing on the training of women and youth on environmental and sustainable development issues, conflict prevention and networking between institutions and countries with parallel interests. Founding members of the Village include parliamentarians, academics and experts in ecology, conflict resolution, gender and youth affairs8. Cyprus promotes achieving gender equality in order to improve sustainable development by: Eliminating few discriminatory provisions Safeguarding womens rights Stopping violence against women Protecting women at workplace Providing equal opportunities to both men and women Ensuring equal gender representation within government

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Report on Some Priority Issues Concerning Sustainable Development and the Environment in Cyprus Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid.