Ombudsman

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities together with the Optional Protocol, was ratified by the Republic of Cyprus in 2011, with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Related Matters (Ratification) Law of 2011 [Law 8 (III)/2011].

With the implementation of article 33 of the Convention, which concerns the designation of an independent mechanism to the member states for the promotion, protection and monitoring of the implementation of the Convention, the Council of Ministers, with decision no. 73.519 dated 9 May 2012, assigned to the Ombudsman, as an Independent Mechanism, the jurisdictions of the promotion, protection and monitoring of the implementation of the Convention.

The Ombudsman, within the framework of her jurisdictions as an Independent Mechanism, proceeds with activities/actions which are related to the promotion, the protection and the monitoring of the Convention. Bearing this in mind, the activities/actions aim to inform, enlighten and inform about the rights of persons with disabilities, the arbitration for the realization of the mentioned rights and the intervention with recommendations and suggestions with regard to policies, and legislative and other measures which are required for the purposes of compliance to the obligations of the State which arise from the Convention. Indicatively, the actions/activities of the Ombudsman, as an Independent Mechanism for the Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of the Convention, include, amongst other things, the following:

Conducting of researches and collection of details, with the aim of monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and the complete and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of the persons with disabilities. ▪ Investigation of complaints and reports by persons with disabilities or representative organizations of persons with disabilities, as well as self-proclaimed examination of cases of violation of the provisions of the Convention, conducting consultations, within the framework of the applicable legislation, with the involved parties, and the ability of imposing penalties for unequal treatment and violation of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Submission of reports to the state services and other involved institutions, with recommendations and suggestions regarding the implementation of the provisions of the Convention by them.

Presides over the Consultative Committee for the Monitoring of the Convention, in which persons with disabilities and representatives of their representative organizations and the Cyprus Confederation of Organizations of the Disabled (CCOD) participate.

Cooperation with the Coordinating Mechanism (Cyprus Council for People with Disabilities) and the Focal Point (Department of Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities) for the monitoring of the application of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Convention.

Enlightenment, awareness and promotion of the protection and realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and the implementation of the Convention, in cooperation with the Focal Point.

In the direction of the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, the close cooperation of the Office with the representative Organizations of Persons with Disabilities was pursued, for establishing the problems faced by Persons with Disabilities which concern the violation of their rights, as these arise from the Convention, as well as the intervention of the Office to solve the mentioned problems.

Independent Mechanism for the Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities