Friday, 31 March 2023
Mr. Kostis Efstathiou, member of the Cypriot delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and Rapporteur of the Assembly on the impact of the pandemic in the fields of education and culture, on the occasion of the World Autism Day celebrated on 2 April 2023, stresses the importance of a holistic approach and inclusion of people with disabilities, especially children, in times of crisis.
People with visible and invisible forms of disability such as autism face disproportionate challenges in almost all areas. The smooth integration of these individuals into the education system, especially at the initial stage, is crucial for their later development. The pandemic ordeal, Mr Efstathiou stresses, highlighted the enormous challenges faced by children with disabilities, as well as their families, in trying not to become completely isolated from the school environment and the wider society.
The Council of Europe, says the Cypriot MEP, is in a position to support Member States and the relevant national authorities in developing and implementing targeted action programmes for vulnerable groups on the basis of the roadmap that has been drawn up, drawing lessons from the recent example of the pandemic.
It is also crucial to strengthen independent authorities, such as the Office of the Administrative Commissioner and the Office for the Protection of Children's Rights, so that their timely intervention ensures that the best interests of people with disabilities are safeguarded as far as possible. Mr. Efstathiou also pointed out that legislation should reflect the acceptance of persons with disabilities and the fight against discrimination and prejudice, ensuring their equal accessibility to basic goods and their participation in the democratic process. Empathy, acceptance of diversity and the adoption of people-centred policies that respond to the specific needs of this vulnerable social group is a collective and institutional obligation, he concluded.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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