Disability issue should be addressed within the scope of human rights

Assist. Prof Dr. Hülya Özbeşer, Chairperson of the  Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Health Sciences, stated that according to the 2022 data obtained from the TRNC Ministry of Labor and Social Security, there are 6500 individuals with special needs and added, “Although TRNC accepted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and made it a part of its domestic law in 2010, the definitions in these laws have not yet been harmonized with the convention. Necessary work has not yet been  done." 

Özbeşer reminded that there are 1.3 billion disabled people around the world including the TRNC, and shared the information that according to the report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, 16% of the world's population consists of individuals with different disabilities.

Stating that today, in many countries unlike in the past, the issue of disability is not approached only from a medical perspective, Özbeşer said, "The disability problem should be addressed with a more comprehensive understanding in the context of factors that are inhibited by the society as well as within the context of  human rights."

Özbeşer pointed out that WHO defines disability as “the social relationship between the characteristic features of people and their perception by the society,” and stated that December 3, World Disability Day was determined to raise awareness about the rights of disabled people and the difficulties they experience worldwide.

In this context, Özbeşer stated that, contrary to popular belief, disability is not based on the disabled person himself but on the obstacles that prevent him from accessing his rights, as well as environmental and structural factors. Her also added that, "Social attitudes and environmental factors are seen as obstacles for disabled people to benefit from  human rights. Therefore, it is vital that societies understand and support the individual needs and rights of people with disabilities."

Özbeşer also stated that Cyprus International University approaches disabled individuals from a human rights perspective and said, “While our university has created an  accessible campus bearing these individuals in mind, it also provides the necessary support by collaborating with public special education institutions. In addition, regulations regarding education, training and examination practices are implemented for the benefit of our disabled students." 

Speaking about what can be done to facilitate the lives of disabled individuals, Özbeşer said, "All public and legal institutions in the society as well as every individual should strive to increase social participation and quality of life, and provide equal opportunities in education, employment and social areas."