A/HRC/40/22 loss of possession and use of the property, given that it lacked effective control over the area in the buffer zone where the property was located.18 38. UNFICYP has continued to observe an increasing interest on the part of Cypriots in enjoying their property rights in and adjacent to the buffer zone. The mission worked to facilitate access to property in the buffer zone through the issuance of permits for authorized activities, such as farming, grazing, construction and utility maintenance. UNFICYP also worked to defuse tensions between civilians in the buffer zone over contested ownership of property, through engagement with military and civilian authorities, community representatives and civilians (S/2018/676, paras. 27–29). E. Freedom of religion or belief and cultural rights 39. According to article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which includes freedom to change their religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest their religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.19 Furthermore, article 27 provides that everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.20 40. The religious leaders of Cyprus sustained their commitment to joint dialogue and religious freedom within the framework of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden. Notable activities included the continuation of the joint initiative for persons working in different religious institutions to attend Greek and Turkish language classes in the buffer zone, and a joint video statement released on World Refugee Day 2018, encouraging fair treatment and compassion for refugees in Cyprus.21 41. On 6 December 2017, the Office of the Religious Track participated in the Rabat+5 symposium on the follow-up to the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, highlighting the experiences of faith-based actors in promoting human rights in Cyprus. Having translated the Beirut Declaration on Faith for Rights and its 18 commitments into Greek and Turkish, 22 the Office of the Religious Track highlighted its projects to promote the Faith for Rights initiative through awareness-raising campaigns on social media, collaboration with educators and journalists and cross-disciplinary dialogue on human rights between religious and non-religious actors from across the island.23 42. The Secretary-General welcomed the continued support of the Republic of Cyprus for the annual pilgrimage to Hala Sultan Tekke mosque in Larnaca. He also welcomed the mosque’s increased opening hours, and encouraged the continuation of those new hours beyond the Ramadan period (S/2018/676, para. 39). The twelfth special pilgrimage took place on 20 November 2018, led by the Mufti of Cyprus, coordinated by the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process and facilitated by UNFICYP. 43. On 11 May 2018, the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights of the Republic of Cyprus issued a report regarding the lack of an appropriate place of worship for the Muslim community in Paphos during the Ramadan period. The Commissioner noted that the failure to provide a suitable space for worship might directly interfere with the right to religious freedom, and recommended that the competent authorities 18 19 20 21 22 23 8 Merian Shiarmen Miltiadis Ioannides v. Attorney General, civil appeal No. 163/2012, 11 January 2018, available (in Greek) at www.cylaw.org/cgi-bin/open.pl?file=apofaseis/aad/meros_1/2018/1201801-163-12PolEf.htm&qstring=Merian%20and%20Shiarmen. See also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 18; Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. See also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 15. See www.religioustrack.com. Available at www.religioustrack.com/faith-for-rights/. Available at www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Opinion/SeminarRabat/RTCYPP.pdf.