Rights of People with Intellectual Disability in Cyprus: Policies and Practices Related to Greater Social and Educational Inclusion

Abstract

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is the framework for national policies and practices that respect the rights of people with disabilities. UN and European human rights entities produce reports that could be used by advocacy groups, such as organizations for people with disabilities, to hold governments accountable for their commitment to international law. This paper focuses on the extent to which policies and practices concerning the education and independent living of people with intellectual disability in Cyprus allow for the full enjoyment of rights under Articles 19 and 24 of the UNCRPD. Data were gathered through a systematic web search for documents of local, international, and European bodies, covering the period April 2007 to July 2014. Documents reviewed included annual reports, country reports, legislative documents, conference papers, and newspaper articles. Findings show that the Republic of Cyprus has not taken significant measures to implement Articles 19 and 24 of the UNCRPD. Existing policies and practices greatly restrict people with intellectual disability from exercising their human rights and fail to promote social and educational inclusion. The study raises questions about the essential nature of policies and practices for people with intellectual disability that may inform the debate in other national contexts. © 2015 International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Wiley Periodicals, Inc..