The Pancypriot Organization of the Blind speaks of "mis-disability attacks" in public transport, arguing that the Ministry of Transport supports policies and practices that "flagrantly violate the rights" of people with disabilities. He also states that the time has come for the Republic of Cyprus to implement an accessible public transport program.
The organization, in its statement, expresses the opinion that the Cypriot Government does not put "in the planning and implementation of its policies on the agenda of its priorities for public traffic, ensuring the safe and independent movement of all citizens by public means of transport , including visually impaired passengers".
He also considers that "the state refuses to implement the International Convention on their Rights and the European Regulations on buses, which mandate the taking of appropriate measures to ensure access to transport for people with disabilities on an equal basis with others and to facilitate their mobility with affordability so that they can live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life."
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, it added, "instead of adopting and implementing a human rights-based approach to disability and helping to end anti-disability policies and actions, engages in supporting policies and practices of enlightenment that flagrantly violate these rights." and promote terms such as: special needs, retarded people, disabled people, people with special abilities, etc., officially and practically participating in fundraisers and events of begging and benevolent behavior through the Radio Marathon”.
"These policies, the end of which are all called for by disability organizations without exception, not only do not serve disabled citizens and their needs, but on the contrary, undermine in the most flagrant way a host of human rights, the implementation of which According to its role, this ministry has an institutional obligation to implement", it is stated.
It is further argued that "despite the much-publicized strengthening and upgrading of the bus fleet with the aim of making all public transport accessible, the relevant Ministry shows unprecedented indifference to reports from disabled people themselves about the inconveniences, humiliations, mishandling and racist attitudes, which systematically exist".
Among other things, the organization points out that "despite the relevant representations of our organizations, bus companies and/or the relevant services have abolished stops in city centers, or even traffic lines at peak hours, as a result of which passengers with disabilities can no longer reach on time to their work". This inevitably, it added, "forces them to return to the daily use of taxis, with painful financial consequences for them".
It argues that "drivers' behavior is often demeaning, insulting and even aggressive towards passengers with disabilities, in a manifestation of a complete lack of respect for their personal dignity and their rights in general".
In addition, he notes that "the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and its relevant Services as well as the bus companies themselves implement policies and practices that not only do not serve passengers with disabilities, marginalizing them and excluding them from all sectors of the of life, but at the same time they undermine every effort to realize the right of people with disabilities
Source: KYPE
