Michailidou: Legislative Gap for Camps After Fire Evacuation

The evacuation of student camps in mountainous Lemesos due to the large fire has prompted a reaction from the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Despo Michailidou, regarding the gap in the legislative framework governing their operation.

The Commissioner's office stated that "every time something tragic happens in our country, we rush to assign blame after the fact," stressing the need for preventive measures.

Ms. Michailidou pointed out that "in the case of fires and the need for immediate evacuation of children's camps, the gap in the legal framework governing their operation was once again evident." She referred to the pending vote on the bill submitted by MP Charalambos Theopemptou since 2021, as well as the Office's 2020 report.

The Commissioner reiterated her office's position "on the immediate need to frame and institutionalize the operation of children's camps with a special law, in a way that ensures the rights of all participating children and, above all, provides them with safety in emergencies, such as this fire."