Limassol Municipality criticised over access for disability card holders

Cyprus’ Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights, Maria Stylianou-Lottidou, has urged the Union of Municipalities, the Union of Communities, and the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities (DSEE) to enhance efforts to ensure free or discounted access to cultural events for holders of the European Disability Card (EDC) and their companions.

The call follows a complaint from a family with a disabled child, who experienced difficulties in accessing free tickets for a cultural event organized by the Limassol Municipality. Despite being informed that free tickets would be available, the family was required to purchase tickets upon arrival at the Limassol Municipal Garden Theatre.

The report highlights that, although the EDC was introduced in Cyprus in 2016 with DSEE as the coordinating body, inconsistencies remain in how benefits are applied. Specifically, the Limassol Municipality has imposed additional criteria, requiring EDC holders to use wheelchairs to qualify for free admission—a practice not uniformly applied across other municipalities.

The Commissioner’s report emphasizes that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities mandates non-discrimination among individuals with disabilities, regardless of their specific conditions or needs. It stresses that the use of special equipment should not determine eligibility for benefits but rather reflect individual needs.

The Commissioner has called on relevant authorities to ensure uniform implementation of benefits and to provide clear guidelines to facilitate easier access for EDC holders during cultural events.