Kids should have the same rights as dogs and be allowed out for a daily exercise according to union officials in Cyprus.
The island country of just over a million has currently had nine deaths with 446 infections, according to the latest statistics from the Johns Hopkins University.
Fears that the virus could spread out of control resulted in the country introducing a full lockdown where people have to request permission to go out via SMS, which has resulted in the number of new cases falling to 20 as of yesterday (Sunday) but despite that the measures are expected to stay in place until the end of the month (April).
This however is putting unnecessary pressure on families with young children, according to the trade union Equality (Isotita) that today (Monday) demanded the country’s children’s rights commissioner ensure that children have the same rights as pets.
In a statement to local media, the union said: “Pets, rightly so, can go out for a walk as many times a day as necessary without their owners sending relevant SMS.”
The union represents a workforce of 2,500 in the public sector and added: “Our children are deprived of the right to exercise, recreation and indirectly of health if their parents send the only SMS they are entitled to for other urgent needs. In other words, if the parent goes to the supermarket or the pharmacy, the children are deprived of the right to walk. Even inmates at the central prison have the right to walk in the yard!”
They added that it was particularly hard for single parents who had to decide whether a walk for the children should take precedence over the need to buy basic necessities including medicines.
Statistics from the start of month say that almost half, 45 percent, of the SMS requests which were approved were related to the need to go to the shops to buy food and supplies.
The second most common request was for physical exercise, (19 percent) and a trip to the doctor or pharmacy at 14 percent.
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Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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