The Department co-ordinated in co-operation with all public services responsible for disability issues, the preparation of the First National Disability Strategy for the period 2018-2028, as well as the National Disability Action Plans for 2013-2015, 2018-2020 and 2021-2023.
The National Disability Strategy defines the vision, values, strategic objectives and targets of the Republic of Cyprus for the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities in all sectors of life and those actions which will add value and improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
The Third National Disability Action Plan 2021-2023 included 135 actions (58 new actions and 77 continuing from previous periods) for implementation by 8 Ministries and 3 Deputy Ministries.
The Implementation Report for the period 2021-2023 showed that:
· 74 actions were fully implemented (55%)
· 49 actions were partly implemented (36%)
· 12 actions were not implemented (9%) for various reasons e.g. the pandemic, understaffing of public services, change of targets etc).
Actions implemented concern the areas of independent living, social inclusion, mobility, social protection, employment, education, accessibility in natural and structured environment, transport and information, health care and rehabilitation, culture of a human rights based approach for disability.
In December 2023 an new consultation process begun for the development of a Revised National Disability Strategy and a new National Disability Action Plan for the period 2024-2028, on the basis of seven pillars:
o Early Childhood and Family Intervention
o Inclusive education
o Access to natural and structured environment, transport and information
o Access to health care and therapeutic intervention
o Access to employment
o Adequate standard of living and independend living
o Participation in culture, recreation, leisure and sport.
The development of National Disability Action Plans take into account: (a) the objectives and action plans of 8 Ministries and 4 Deputy Ministiries providing services to persons with disabilities, (b) the opinions and demands by the representative organisations of persons with disabilities and especiall the Pancyprian Confederation or the Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, (c) the observations issued on 8.5.2017 by the UN Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities after its first dialogue with the Republic of Cyprus for the implementation of UNCRPD, (d) the recommendations of indepenedent authorities on disability in Cyprus, and (e) the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.
A draft of the Revised National Disability Strategy and the National Disability Action Plan for 2024-2028, has been uploaded for public consultation at the e-consultation.gov.cy platform and is expected to be completed and submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval in April 2024.