A/HRC/22/18 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 1 February 2013 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-second session Agenda item 2 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of human rights in Cyprus Note by the Secretary-General Summary The present report has been prepared in accordance with the mandate contained in resolution 4 (XXXI) of the Commission on Human Rights. Moreover, in its resolution 1987/50, the Commission reiterated its previous calls for the full restoration of all human rights to the population of Cyprus, in particular to the refugees; called for the tracing of and accounting for missing persons in Cyprus without any further delay; and called for the restoration and respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, including freedom of movement, the freedom of settlement and the right to property. It is in this light that the present report reflects a variety of human rights-related issues. The annex to this note, prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and covering the period from 1 December 2011 to 30 November 2012, is herewith transmitted to the Council. It provides an overview of human rights concerns in Cyprus, including the right to life and the question of missing persons, the principle of non-discrimination, freedom of movement, property rights, freedom of religion and cultural rights, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to education. Moreover, it provides an update on activities in Cyprus to promote the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), in which the Council called on all actors involved, when negotiating and implementing peace agreements, to adopt a gender perspective. The present report concludes that the persisting division of the island continues to constitute an obstacle to the full enjoyment in mutual confidence by the whole population of Cyprus of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It stresses the importance of ensuring that there are no human rights protection gaps and that all persons can effectively enjoy their fundamental rights wherever they live. Addressing the underlying human rights GE.13-10556