Succeeding the prime minister at the meeting of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ESAMeA), the Minister of State, with responsibility for the Coordination Mechanism of Persons with Disabilities, Stavros Papastavrou pointed out from the beginning that the meeting was attended by the prime minister as well as the Cabinet, “in a pan-army of high symbolism and substance. Almost all ministers participate in the thematic sections of the day, discussing the rights of people with disabilities, in their respective areas of responsibility. This is happening for the first time”, noted, with emphasis, the Minister of State and continued: “We signal in practice that the challenges are of such importance and intensity that a comprehensive and systematic response from the State’s side is required. A multifaceted modernization of the country is also required in terms of disabilitys”.

And, addressing the audience and especially the president of the Confederation, Ioannis Vardakastanis, whom he thanked for “his tireless efforts”, he assured that “for the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the equal participation of everyone in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of the country is a priority».

Besides, he added,we want a society without barriers and discrimination, with visibility, inclusion, respect and solidarity. The “no one will be left behind” announced by the Prime Minister in 2019 is being implemented, with consistency and program. Already in 2020, the National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted. It was the first horizontal, public policy on disability. The state’s commitment to a single road map, which responded to international and European requirements. Thus, in the period 2019-2023 disability issues were reduced to central government policy».

Thanking, at this point, his predecessor, George Gerapetritis, who “laid the solid foundations on which we are building the new edifice”, St. Papastavrou further elaborated: “This new building is the National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2024-2030. With her, we pick up speed. We strengthen the application of good governance principles in the implementation of disability policies. We invest in digital tools, institutionalizing procedures and appropriate staffing. And of course, we follow the model of the European strategy for the rights of people with disabilities 2021-2030, in terms of its structure and content. But above all, this new National Strategy will bring us even closer to an inclusive society, without exclusions, with the visibility of all».

Additionally, “we continue, expand and improve all the flagship actions of the period 2019-2023. Actions such as the Personal Assistant, the National Disability Portal, the recording and implementation of building accessibility improvements throughout the Territory. But we are also introducing new, bold reforms aimed at removing barriers and protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Thus, we specialize the National Strategy on an annual basis, with the Action Plans of each ministry. These are posted publicly by the ministries. We are thus promoting efficiency and accountability by leveraging all the coordination tools that government has to implement this flagship strategys”.

From then on, as the Minister of State mentioned, “we have already started a legislative process to amend Law 4488/2017, in consultation with the disability movement and every competent body. Its object is the organizational structure and upgrading of the functioning of the Coordinating Mechanism and the Individual Reference Points. We strengthen the cooperation of the Coordinating Mechanism with the Reference Points of the Regions and Municipalities. The aim is to be able to monitor issues concerning the rights of people with disabilities, at the central, regional and local level and to facilitate the relevant actions».

At the same time, the Minister of State submitted a series of government commitments, such as:We are creating a stable administrative structure, within government, to monitor and highlight issues of concern to people with disabilities. We seek administrative continuity, both in the Presidency of the Government and in the individual ministries. We are upgrading the standard accessible web portal amea.gov.gr. It will be an open communication channel of the state with every body and every citizen, a digital repository of knowledge and a tool of transparency and accountability». And, given the opportunity, he thanked Professor Konstantinos Stefanidis, president of the National Accessibility Authority.

But he added, at a recent meeting in September at the United Nations with UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, “special mention was made by the UN for amea.gov.gr, as a good practice that our country can export to other countries».

Recalling, on the other hand, the meetings that the prime minister and the government had, in the last quarter, with the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities and the representatives of the secondary Federations, with the participation of the Disabled Persons’ Association and the National Accessibility Authority, the minister underlined that for him , personally, constitutes “life experience to work with people who are a real inspiration, a shining example for all of us. With a vision, with a plan, with stubbornness, with courage, with responsibility. And above all, I am honored to be able to contribute with you to the substantial improvement of the rights of disabled people in our society“, he said addressing the disabled people present.

Because, as he explained, “there can be no doubt that the level of civilization of any society is inextricably intertwined with the way it treats its most vulnerable members. But I am fully aware that we have a lot of work to do before we succeed in eliminating exclusion and discrimination. Starting in childhood, continuing through education, professional career and independent living, the road is rough and uphill.». And, “this difficult road we are determined to smooth”.

After all, he clarified, “our government’s commitment to removing any kind of barrier for people with disabilities is unwavering. Every physical, digital and, of course, social exclusion. The obstacles, that is, that often raise attitudes and stereotypes».

And, in conclusion, “the issues of people with disabilities concern us all. The implementation of the National Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2024-2030 is the business of all of us. It is a pillar of the versatile modernization of the country that makes our society stronger, because it makes it more humane. Together we design a better today with everyone, for everyone“, concluded St. Papastavrou.