A/HRC/40/22 against the journalist Maria Siakalli, one of the glossary’s co-authors.27 A group of 238 Greek Cypriot journalists signed a letter of protest against the glossary (S/2018/919, para. 4). 49. In addition, the Representative on Freedom of the Media raised concerns about other incidents that threatened the freedom of the media and freedom of expression in Cyprus. On 25 January 2018, he issued a public statement condemning the attacks on the offices in Nicosia of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika. He highlighted the need to protect journalists and the importance of their being able to express their views freely and without fear. He subsequently welcomed the decision to hand down prison sentences to the perpetrators of the attacks. He urged the Turkish authorities to drop legal charges against two Afrika journalists, stressing that it was essential for the public authorities to refrain from initiating lawsuits against journalists for their work, including when they expressed differing views on sensitive affairs.28 G. Right to education 50. According to article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to education.29 Education should be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It should promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and should further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. The Declaration also provides that parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that should be given to their children. 51. The European Commission continued its economic development programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, which included schemes to promote their right to education. The Commission implemented projects that helped schools to enhance their teaching and learning capacities, lifelong learning projects to improve professional capacities and employability, and other technical assistance for vocational education, training and the labour market. The Commission also maintained its scholarship scheme for the Turkish Cypriot community in order to improve Turkish Cypriot students’ limited access to European Union exchange and educational programmes. During the 2017/18 academic year, the Commission funded 152 scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and professionals. Further efforts were made to inform students about opportunities to study in the European Union, to develop an alumni network and to monitor the medium-term impact of the economic development programme, drawing on the return rate of students to Cyprus and their success rate in finding employment. 30 52. UNFICYP maintained its logistical support and outreach to the Greek Cypriot primary and secondary schools on the Karpas Peninsula. For the school year starting in September 2018, the Turkish Cypriot authorities refused to allow the appointment of three teachers and one teaching assistant at the schools in Rizokarpaso, and rejected a number of textbooks. 53. In a recent development, the Turkish Cypriot authorities reportedly announced that more Greek-language teachers would be brought into the school system (ibid., para. 17). 54. There were still no developments regarding the establishment of a Turkish Cypriot elementary school in Limassol, although Turkish-speaking pupils continued to have access to Turkish-language education at a primary school and high school there (S/2018/676, para. 41). 27 28 29 30 10 OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, “Regular Report to the Permanent Council”, 22 November 2018, p. 12. OSCE, “Legal charges initiated by Turkey against Turkish Cypriot journalists Şener Levent and Ali Osman should be dropped, urges OSCE Representative”, 2 August 2018. Available at www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/389660. See also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, arts. 13–14, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, arts. 28–29. European Commission, Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, COM(2018) 487 final, 22 June 2018, pp. 5 and 7.