Newsroom
The Cyprus Confederation of Organizations of the Disabled (KYSOA) has condemned what it calls the Municipality of Paralimni’s “continuing discriminatory behavior” toward people with disabilities on the area’s beaches.
In a statement released Friday, KYSOA expressed “strong concern and dissatisfaction” over the municipality’s alleged use of arbitrary criteria to determine disability status and provide accessibility equipment. The group claims Paralimni is ignoring national and international legal frameworks by applying its own internal standards, a practice it says appears to be motivated by cost-cutting.
“Unlike other districts, Paralimni has established its own manual for assessing and recognizing disability, systematically excluding individuals who do not meet its internal ‘requirements,’” the statement said.
KYSOA also reported receiving complaints about what it described as “demeaning behavior” by municipal staff toward disabled beachgoers.
The organization said it has already raised the issue with the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of the Interior and the Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data. These actions, KYSOA said, aim to pressure local authorities to comply with existing accessibility laws and to improve conditions for people with disabilities.
The confederation called on Paralimni to “immediately cease its discriminatory and arbitrary practices” and to arrange a meeting with the group to begin consultations.
“At this late stage, we urge the municipality to engage in substantive dialogue with competent representative bodies and implement practices and quotas that will ensure accessibility and equality for all,” the statement concluded.
