European Social Forum - CYPRUS

 

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ANNOUNCEMENT

The cultural branch of the EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM ( ESFC), CYPRUS, is happy to announce the conclusions of the INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR , which took place on May first, at MONIATIS HOTEL in Limassol, under the European program: EUROPE FOR CITIZENS (study visit), The subject of the seminar was:

“EUROPE – ACTIVE CITIZENS and persons with disabilities”.

Under this program, our 15 gests from abroad, plus a Cypriot group of 35 persons with disabilities and members of many non government organizations, visited representatives of Local Self Government and Public Services and private recreation places. They came up with the following conclusions:

  • Many public buildings ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE.
  • There are no HOTELS (3 or 4 star) with convenient rooms, as per European standards.
  • The furniture of these buildings or offices IS NOT appropriate for persons with disabilities
  • There are no parking places and when such parking places exist, they are not protected from the traffic, (a certain incident happened at “Acti Olympion”).
  • In the market area of the town, sidewalks, not only they are not accessible to persons with disabilities but they are also dangerous.
  • Very few shops, in Anexartisia and St Andrew streets, are accessible to persons with disabilities. The same applies to pharmacies.
  • There are not any public or private WCs convenient to persons with disabilities.
  • Cypriots in general are not sensitive to problems concerning persons with disabilities.
  • Even the tourist infrastructure is non existed. There are four million tourists with disabilities in Europe .
  • There is not any public transportation system, and there are no convenient TAXIS, for persons with disabilities.
  • In all streets, with the exception of the coastal avenue, there are no lanes for the safe passage of bicycles, wheel chairs and baby cots.
  • The traffic police, when asked for help, are not sensitive on these matters.
  • There is still a widespread impression that one single rump, behind each building can solve all problems.

 These Conclusions will be circulated in all the proper departments of the Cyprus Republic and the Local Authorities, All participating NGOs will be informed, in order to disseminate these results in their countries.  

We are sure that the ACCESSIBILITY of LIMASSOL will be a priority for the Local Authorities.    

 

 

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