-
.
- Ελληνικά
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Ms Marilena Evangelou participated in the 62nd Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission for Social Development in New York.
The Deputy Minister stressed, in the context of the National Declaration of the Republic of Cyprus, the urgent actions and reforms that need to be taken in order to achieve the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda through equitable, effective and inclusive social policies.
He referred to the broader social protection policies of Cyprus, such as, inter alia, the EEE, the Minimum Wage, the General Health System, Long-Term Care Services, as well as the modernisation of services to respond to the green and digital transition.
Emphasis was placed on the recent reforms of the State Ministry of Social Welfare in the EES and particularly on the strengthening of the Social Intervention Mechanism, which aims to activate beneficiaries by integrating them into the labour market, through training programmes or psychosocial support.
Stressing the importance of policies to reconcile family and professional life, in order to make it easier for parents to both work and take care of their children, Ms Evangelou presented the benefits resulting from the Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for Children up to 4 years of age of the Ministry of Social Welfare. Reference was also made to the parental leave allowance and the extension of the coverage of the paternity allowance to all fathers regardless of their marital status.
In the context of social inclusion of persons with disabilities, reference was made to the "National Strategy for Disability 2018-2028".
On the sidelines of the 62nd Session of the UN Committee on Social Development, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare held a meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs LI Junhua during which they exchanged views on the challenges at the international level with regard to the implementation of the 2030 Social Agenda and the Social Development Goals. Ms Evangelou informed Mr Junhua about the social policy implemented by Cyprus, while the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs stressed the importance of Cyprus' participation as a Member State of the European Union (EU) in the work of the Committee.
Ms Evangellou also held bilateral contacts with the Minister of Labour Welfare and Social Protection of Portugal, Ms Ana Mendes Godinho, the Deputy Minister of Multilateral Relations of Costa Rica, Mr Alejandro Solano Ortiz and the Deputy Minister of Social Development of Jordan, Mr Alejandro Solano Ortiz. During her stay in New York, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the President of the Federation of Cypriots of America, Mr. Alexandre Elpidophoros of Jordan, and the President of the Federation of Cypriots of America. Kyriakos Papastylianou and members of the Cypriot community, with whom they discussed the social challenges facing the Greek Cypriots, as well as ways of further cooperation.
(MΘ/ΓΣ/ΝΖ)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
