Cyprus’ commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was underlined by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina, during Cyprus’ national statement at the 19th Conference of States Parties to the Convention, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 9, 2026.
Papaellina noted that the Conference is taking place at a ‘particularly significant moment’ marking the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She said the Convention remains ‘a landmark human rights instrument’ and a ‘powerful reminder’ that ‘dignity, equality, accessibility and inclusion’ must remain at the centre of policies and actions.
In her intervention, the Deputy Minister stressed that safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities ‘is not merely a legal obligation,’ but also ‘a fundamental human rights responsibility and a democratic imperative.’ She added that the Conference provides ‘an important opportunity’ to reflect on the progress achieved, while also recognising the challenges that remain.
She said that she attaches particular importance to the role of organisations of persons with disabilities and said that, as a member of the Human Rights Council, Cyprus has placed the issues of persons with disabilities ‘among its priorities.’
Referring to national policies, Papaellina said that since 2006 Cyprus has enshrined in national legislation the obligation to consult representative organisations ‘on all issues concerning persons with disabilities.’ This approach, she noted, has led to ‘important initiatives,’ including the adoption of a new law in April 2026, as well as improvements in service design and delivery.
She placed particular emphasis on the need to advance supported decision-making services, stressing that empowering persons with disabilities ‘to make their own choices’ is essential to ‘inclusive, rights-based societies.’ In this context, she recalled that this was also the focus of the High-Level Conference hosted in Cyprus in May, aimed at providing ‘a comprehensive platform for discussions’ on disability issues from political, technical and civil society perspectives.
The Deputy Minister further noted that, as the current Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2026, Cyprus is committed to promoting ‘an Autonomous Union of values that leaves no one behind.’ She assured that Cyprus will continue to work closely with the European Union, UN Member States, the United Nations, civil society and organisations of persons with disabilities.
Concluding, she called on the international community to use the twentieth anniversary of the Convention as ‘a renewed call’ for further action, ambition and solidarity.