The Pancyprian Organization of the Blind speaks of "unprecedented violations of the human rights of blind people by the government at many levels", noting that as a result of this violation, "the vast majority of the approximately 2500 blind people living in Cyprus today are completely excluded from the community and live on the margins".
According to a statement by the Pancyprian Organisation of the Blind, "one of the most serious violations of the rights of the blind is the deprivation of the fundamental right to work and employment of the approximately 550 blind people who are of working age (18-65 years old)".
As the statement says, "due to the defiant indifference of the state to blind people, 450 of them are outside the labour market, experiencing conditions of poverty, social exclusion, humiliation and destitution and lacking the necessary means to live for themselves and their families."
It adds that "this is the highest percentage among EU member states."
Furthermore, "the number of blind people who find work through special projects and programmes aimed at realising the right to work and employment for people with disabilities is also particularly low".
In particular, as the Pancyprian Organization of the Blind reports, "only 18 finally blind people were appointed in a period of ten years in the public and wider public sector on the basis of the special law on appointment of 10% of persons with disabilities in the recruitment process in the public and wider public sector, of which only three in the civil service." The rest were appointed in the educational service."
Source: CNA
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