Focal Point for UN Convention, European and International Issues

The monitoring and promotion of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is coordinated by the Department, which has been designated by the Council of Ministers in 2012 as the focal point for this purpose in Cyprus. This is a collective effort, in cooperation with 80 Contact Points in the relevant government departments, the Pancyprian Council for Persons with Disabilities as the Coordinating Mechanism to facilitate the implementation of the Convention, the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights as the Independent Monitoring Mechanism of the Convention and the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled Persons’ Organisations, as well as other representative organisations of persons with disabilities, which are actively involved and participate with their representatives in the consultations and procedures for the implementation and monitoring of the Convention.

On 11/12/24 the Council of Ministers approved the Revised National Strategy and Action Plan for Disability 2024-2028, which was prepared by the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, with contributions by other Ministries, members of the Pancyprian Council for Persons with Disabilities, after an open public consultation through the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare. The Fourth National Action Plan for Disability 2024-2028 contains 75 new actions to be implemented by eight Ministries and four Deputy Ministries.

Also in April 2024, the Council of Ministers by its Decision of April 2024, No. 10/04/2024 approved the First National Strategy and Action Plan for Autism. The Action Plan includes 53 actions across seven pillars that address the whole life of a person with autism, from birth to adulthood.

More information can be found in the section Documents -> Focal Point for UN Convention, European and International Issues.