A series of high‑level conferences focusing on disability rights and child welfare will be organised in Cyprus in May, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Through these events, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare aims to strengthen Cyprus’s role in shaping European social policy and to promote concrete initiatives at EU level.
Focus on disability inclusion
According to an announcement by the Deputy Ministry, the High‑Level Conference on Disability will take place in Limassol on 7 May 2026, under the theme Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Empowerment and Support in a Community for All. The emphasis will be on supported decision‑making and the strengthening of community‑based services, with the objective of enhancing social inclusion and autonomy for persons with disabilities, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Senior officials from European institutions are expected to attend, including EU Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib, along with ministers from Ireland and Spain and a senior state official from Malta. Participants will present best practices in the field of supported decision‑making.
European platform and civil‑society participation
On 8 May, the European Platform on Disability will convene to further examine the European Commission’s new initiative aimed at reinforcing the EU’s strategy in this area.
The programme will conclude with the Annual National Assembly of the European Disability Forum, bringing together persons with disabilities from across the European Union.
As noted, the three events are designed to be complementary, forming a coherent framework that combines policymaking, technical work and active participation by civil society on disability issues.
Child poverty and well‑being
A further High‑Level Conference, titled No Child Left Behind: Promoting Children’s Well‑Being and Tackling Child Poverty will be held on 20 and 21 May. The event will bring together ministers, senior EU policymakers, leading experts, representatives of civil society and children.
The aim is to promote comprehensive, preventive and inclusive approaches to addressing child poverty and strengthening children’s well‑being across the European Union.
Presidency priorities
“The Cyprus Presidency, following the adoption of the Council Conclusions on investing in children and combating poverty by the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council on 9 March 2026, places children’s well‑being at the core of its policy priorities at this conference in Cyprus,” the announcement states.
Discussions are expected to focus on the structural causes of poverty, investments in early childhood and the effective implementation of the European Child Guarantee, contributing to the development of the forthcoming EU strategy to combat poverty and reinforcing the commitment to a Europe in which no child is left behind.
Source: CNA