Author: andreas.v

The Government attaches great importance to the reports of the Commissioner for Administration, said the President of the Republic. Mrs. Lottides emphasized that the reports record an increase in citizens’ complaints regarding allowance issues.

President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, received today, at the Presidential Palace, the annual reports for 2021 and 2022 from the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights, Mrs. Maria Stylianou Lottides.

Delivering her reports, Mrs. Lottides said, among other things, that “on the cover of the annual report for 2022, we have our evaluation from the United Nations with an A status, something that was facilitated by the change in the Commissioner’s appointment process.”

She added that she also submits separate reports from the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Body and the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture, which fall under the Commissioner’s responsibilities.

Mrs. Lottides pointed out that the reports highlight an increase in citizens’ complaints about allowances, adding that personnel issues are somewhat overshadowed compared to disability issues, while regarding discrimination, there are not many cases except for issues related to disabilities.

On his part, the President of the Republic said that the Government attaches great importance to both the Commissioner’s reports and the responsibilities of her office as they concern one of the most important issues, human rights.

He added, “It is very natural for the majority of complaints to relate to allowances, generally social policies that are of particular importance to us. And that is why I often say that a responsible fiscal policy is one that will allow us to respond to the demands of society, the complaints of which I fully understand.”

And it is for this reason that I often say that a responsible fiscal policy is the one that will allow us to respond to the demands of society, to the complaints that are made, most of which I completely understand”.

He added that the Government sees non-governmental organizations as collaborators, considering that in many cases, the requests they submit are entirely justified.

The President of the Republic pointed out, as an example, that “recently, for example, I had a meeting with organized groups of disabled people, and one of the issues we discussed, and I even decided to proceed immediately with a public consultation starting on January 15, so that we can immediately promote legislation in the Parliament, concerns the allowance policy, as well as the fact that there is no unified legislation for the disabled.

You understand that this is a distortion, and for this reason, the issues you deal with are of particular importance to us, and in this context, we will study the reports with the due significance.”

We are pleased to announce another collaboration.

The Ablebook application begins a new partnership with the Metropolis Mall of Larnaca. An application that will provide all the relevant information and services, around the accessibility of the disabled in the urban centers and in the villages of the periphery of Cyprus. You can find out more information about us by clicking on the link below. (https://linktr.ee/ablebook)

More specifically, the Ablebook app offers four (4) features.

The first feature is an interactive map that allows users to select the location they want to head to, with more advanced options available. In addition, users can see the available accessibility facilities at each site via photos, as well as navigate to and contact businesses. In addition, users can report problems they face in a particular area by contacting us directly. Finally, in the application, there are over 1000 locations that show their facilities for the Disabled and all public parking spaces for the Disabled in Cyprus.

The second feature of the application is Ablecard. A membership card exclusively for people with disabilities where businesses within the application provide additional benefits to people with disabilities eg discounts.

The third feature of our application is the Kids section. This section provides information on accessible places where children with disabilities can play sports, such as parks, gyms, sports teams/academies, nature trails, and more.

The last available feature of the app is the Ablebook Portal. Through the Ablebook Portal, businesses as well as municipal bodies have the ability to manage their locations in the application, change the content, hours of operation and photos, etc. There is always a check by Ablebook in case of changes to the facilities, that the appropriate specifications are followed.

Our application with its digital services focuses on improving the accessibility of urban services, with the aim of integrating and including people with disabilities in the urban environment and society.

Metropolis Mall has already been designed with disabled access and navigation in the Mall in mind. Since parking spaces are already available near the entrances for people with disabilities, ramps, elevators, and wheelbarrows are available for more effortless movement inside the department store. In addition, there are accessible toilets for people with disabilities. Restaurants also offer vegan options to accommodate those with dietary restrictions. Finally, there are accessible ATMs to make it easier for people with disabilities to withdraw cash.

With our cooperation, we will provide the possibility to the application users who visit the Metropolis Mall to know in which parts of the Shopping Center the necessary accesses for them are located. As well as if they need some help, contacting competent people in the Shopping Center is possible. As a result, everyone can without exception do their shopping and enjoy their coffee or food without obstacles.

In conclusion, the partnership between Ablebook and Metropolis Mall is an important step towards an egalitarian and inclusive society. By providing facilities and services that meet the needs of people with disabilities, Metropolis Mall definitely sets an example for other businesses.

The collaboration between Ablebook and Leroy Merlin is an important step towards creating a society without exclusion, which meets the needs of people with disabilities. The Ablebook application is a powerful tool that helps businesses, like Leroy Merlin, showcase the services they offer to their customers, making it easier for everyone to access their products and services.

The facilities provided by Leroy Merlin have been designed to ensure smooth access and navigation for people with disabilities in the store. Specifically, parking spaces for people with disabilities are provided near the entrance. Ramps, elevators, and specially designed carts are also available for easier movement. In addition, Leroy Merlin has gone a step further by providing toilets for people with disabilities.

In addition to these facilities, Leroy Merlin has made a conscious effort to offer vegan food, making it easier for people with dietary restrictions.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Ablebook and Leroy Merlin is a commendable effort toward creating a genuinely democratic and inclusive society. By providing facilities and services that meet the needs of people with disabilities, Leroy Merlin sets an example for other businesses to follow. It is encouraging to see businesses taking steps to ensure equal access and opportunities for all.

The Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP) of the Nicosia Region, in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Nicosia Municipality, are organizing a free guided tour for people with mobility disabilities in the historic center of Nicosia.

The tour will take place on Saturday 3/12 at 10 am, with a meeting point in front of the steps of the old Nicosia City Hall in Eleftherias Square and will last approximately one and a half hours.

The free guided tour will take place in Greek, while those interested are invited to register by calling 22889741 no later than Wednesday 30/11.

This guided tour is implemented as a pilot in Nicosia, while the goal is to establish it in both Greek and English, on a more regular basis.

There will be a limited number of seats.