Nicosia: A High-Level Conference on Disability titled 'Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Empowerment and Support in a Community for All,' is being organized within the framework of the Cyprus EU Presidency with the main objective to advance policies for an inclusive society.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the conference gathers high-level officials from Cyprus and across Europe, as well as representatives from civil society organizations. It is organized by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and chaired by the Director General of the Deputy Ministry.
The conference is centrally focused on supported decision-making for persons with disabilities and providing community-based support services. These efforts aim to bolster social inclusion, empowerment, and autonomy in alignment with the principles and values of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Papaellina is expected to deliver an address emphasizing the importance of developing policies that ensure equal opportunities and meaningful participation for all citizens. The European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, will also participate, presenting the recent adoption by the Commission of the new Communication on 'Enhancing European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities until 2030.'
Ministers from Ireland and Spain, along with a representative from Malta, will share best practices in the field of supported decision-making for persons with disabilities. The conference places particular emphasis on the active involvement of organizations representing people with disabilities and individuals with lived experiences, who will share their views and recommendations on issues that directly concern them.
A notable event within the conference is the meeting of the European Disability Platform, taking place for the first time outside of Brussels. This meeting will focus on a more in-depth examination of the new initiative of the European Commission on the Disability Strategy. The proceedings will conclude with the Annual General Assembly of the European Disability Forum.
The meetings conducted in the context of the conference are complementary, forming a coherent framework for dialogue and cooperation at political, technical, and civil society levels. They share the objective of building an inclusive society for all, as noted in the press release.