Deaf individuals in Cyprus face insufficient access to information, particularly during crises such as the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, according to the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled (KYSOA) and the Cyprus Sign Language Interpreters Association. The issue was raised during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.
Ensuring access to news
KYSOA President Themis Anthopoulou stressed that deaf people must have access to up-to-date news through as many television programmes as possible. She highlighted that relying solely on brief news bulletins on state television is inadequate, especially during periods of crisis when rapid developments occur.
Anthopoulou noted that warning messages sent by Civil Defence to mobile phones last week could have caused panic among deaf individuals who were not informed in advance about the test alerts. She also emphasised that during election periods, deaf people should be able to watch programmes that could inform their voting decisions, not just short news summaries.
Interpreter certification gaps
Cyprus Sign Language interpreters’ association president Kyproula Makri highlighted the lack of full access to televised news for deaf individuals and the absence of a certification body for sign language interpreters. The association, founded a few years ago, has only 22 members. She added that current legislation recognising Cyprus Sign Language does not regulate interpreter certification.
Education Ministry role
The Ministry of Education clarified that it is responsible for training staff but not for certifying interpreters. While the ministry is ready to begin training, it remains unclear how extensive the training should be for each official depending on their responsibilities.
The parliamentary committee continues to examine measures to ensure deaf access information and full participation in public life.
Source: CNA
Also read: Cyprus approves independent living law for people with disabilities
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