Dear Guests, The Municipal Authority of Iraklion, is convinced that the right to human dignity is a fundamental human right. Regardless of race, sex, religion, illness, age, ideology, special educational, social, economic and cultural needs, people are entitled to equal treatment, equal opportunities and free participation in society. Our d iversity is the wealth of society and rather than being a cause of exclusion should be respected and recognized. With these thoughts I would like to congratulate the Hellenic Association of Occupational Therapists and the Occupational Therapy Center of our municipality, together with all the stakeholders in the organization of this seminar, because it gives us the opportunity today to share thoughts and experiences on social inclusion, and to take note of innovative community mental health programs ​​ in Holland and Belgium.

Continuing, I would like to stress that the Occupational Therapy Centre of the Municipality of I raklion is an innovative and unique structure in the municipal government in Greece and provide s high quality occupational therapy services to children, adults and seniors of our city, facing functional difficulties in their daily living. Through all the social welfare services of our municipality, the residents of I raklion have direct access to preventive, support, rehabilitation and care services and c enters, according to their needs and problems, in their homes, without suffering the inconvenience of long hours – months of waiting for state services. These services are free and apart from other things, this provides economic relief, especially in this critical economic period our country is going through.

I consider it my personal debt and that of the whole municipal administration of our municipality, to support together all further efforts which aim for the social care and protection of groups and individuals in the city and to develop new programs and actions aimed at improving the quality of lif e and maintaining social cohesion. In closing, I welcome you to this seminar and wish all of us a fruitful cooperation, always aiming at the social integration of vulnerable populations in the life of the community. The Mayor of Irakleio Attikis, Pantelis Vlassopoulos