The INECO Cyprus 1^st Gender Issues Meeting was held in the afternoon of the 26^th of June 2008 in Larnaca, Cyprus. The workshop focused on discussing with local stakeholders issues relevant to the gender dimension of the water problems (scarcity, groundwater overexploitation and depletion) that Cyprus has been facing in the last years. The meeting was organized by Aeoliki Ltd. and was attended by 16 participants.

The main issues discussed and the major outcomes of the meeting were the following:

1. Women are primarily responsible for household use and management; therefore, they can influence (positively or negatively) their family members in developing water culture and consciousness;
2. In general there is lack of water consciousness among the majority of Cypriots that may negatively impact the attitude of the water conscious ones;
3. Women can and must be involved in the water problem through their organized women associations;
4. Water problems should be addressed through one Water Entity and not as it is today through a number of government authorities (Ministries, Departments);
5. There is lack of awareness on water-related issues among citizens and especially among the young boys and girls. Women can play a significant role in this aspect through their role as mothers;
6. The Government through the competent authorities informed the Cypriots of the water problems we are facing now with a great delay. The problem should be recognized and measures should have been taken in due time and not at the last moment;
7. In Cyprus we have a lot of foreigner women working as houseworkers who does not have water culture and are not aware of the water problems we are facing. Women must educate them to conserve water;
8. In the past when we did not have all the water amenities we have today, people were very sensitive to conserve water, while today we act irrationally;
9. The arid climate of Cyprus is one of the reasons for the over consumption of water (for cleaning purposes at houses, verandas, etc.);
10. The Government did not succeeded in persuading the Cypriots that we are facing water problems and so people act with no water consciousness;
11. Water conservation systems must be installed at houses, although this will raise the construction cost;
12. Penalties for over-consumption and water taxes are amongst the possible measures accompanied with rewards for adopting water conservation measures in every day activities.
13. A local designated gender focal group within the framework of the INECO project in Cyprus will be formulated, with the ultimate goal to act in the future as a pressure group to raise the water awareness and culture of the Cypriot families. Five of the participants formed the core of this group and will meet in September with the Aeoliki team to organize the first actions.