Cyprus’ parliament on Thursday approved legislation allowing women to volunteer for military service in a move officials said eliminates any gender bias over who can serve in the ethnically divided island’s National Guard.
The measure passed after 32 lawmakers voted in favor, with 15 abstaining in the 56-seat legislature.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides hailed the vote as a “significant step in bolstering the principle of equality as well as the island’s defensive capabilities” by offering women the opportunity to volunteer for military service.
Preexisting law specifically stated that all males turning 18 must complete 14 months of compulsory service in the National Guard, Associated Press reports. The new legislation amends the wording to say that any citizen could serve in the National Guard, including women, on a voluntary basis once they meet specific physical fitness requirements.
Women have served in the Cypriot National Guard for many years as salaried professional soldiers under contract for a specific length of time. Under the new law, the length of service for female volunteers will be six months.
The new law also stipulates that the defense ministry has broad authority to determine how and where female volunteers will serve.
Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said earlier this year that induction and basic training would be carried out separately from male recruits, with the first female volunteers expected to be inducted around October this year.
He also said that his ministry is weighing several incentives to draw in female volunteers, including steep tuition discounts at private universities and a system under which women can earn credits toward post-military service employment in either the police force or the fire department.
Women will also have the option to serve in the reserves once they complete their regular service.
Greece has also announced that its armed forces will begin the voluntary enlistment of women as part of the country’s “Agenda 2030,” an approach aiming to reform the Greek Armed Forces.
The announcement was made in March by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias at a General National Defense Staff event celebrating International Women’s Day (March 8).
A section of the “Agenda 2030” includes the voluntary conscription of women, “something that has been foreseen a long time ago by Law 705/1977 but had never been implemented,” Dendias said.
He added that this measure will grant the armed forces access to valuable human resources.
“Women fight daily, demanding equal treatment in every aspect of their lives -socially and professionally. They demand the same within the armed forces of our country,” Dendias said.
Reflecting on Greece’s military heritage, Dendias said that “Since antiquity, deep antiquity, we here in Greece do not believe in a mercenary army. We believe in an army of citizens, which is managed by worthy professionals who come from Greek society,” adding that women make up 17.5 percent of the country’s Armed forces.
