A/HRC/34/15 B. Non-discrimination 24. According to article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.8 Furthermore, all are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of the Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. 25. As at 31 December 2015, there were as many as 272,000 internally displaced persons living in the part of the island controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. When compared with previous years, the number of internally displaced persons remained unchanged, with no new displacement and no returns recorded in 2015. 9 26. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has expressed its concern at the persistent discrimination against Turkish Cypriots, non-European Union migrants (third-country migrants) and members of ethnic minorities, especially Roma. While noting the legal and institutional measures taken by Cyprus to combat discrimination, the Committee also expressed its concern at the remaining discriminatory provisions in existing legislation, such as section 5 of the Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation Law of 2004, which does not cover discrimination based on nationality. The Committee was also concerned at the legal protection gap regarding multiple discrimination and the limited scope of anti-discrimination jurisprudence, reportedly owing to the lack of awareness of anti-discrimination laws (E/C.12/CYP/CO/6, para. 13). 27. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recommended that Cyprus further strengthen its anti-discrimination legislative framework, including by reviewing the existing anti-discrimination laws, and urged it to review existing legislation with a view to removing all discriminatory provisions. The Committee also recommended the adoption of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that prohibits all direct, indirect and multiple forms of discrimination on any grounds and provides for effective remedies for victims of discrimination, including within judicial and administrative proceedings. It further recommended that Cyprus intensify its efforts to raise awareness of the anti-discrimination legal framework among the public, particularly rights-holders and judicial and law enforcement officials (ibid., para. 14). 28. During the period under review, UNFICYP continued to engage with local authorities to ensure access to health-care, welfare and educational services for Turkish Cypriots residing in the south (S/2016/598, para. 17). In order to promote enhanced cooperation in old town Nicosia, the Mission facilitated meetings between the Nicosia municipal offices, including through 12 joint meetings to develop projects to address environmental, social and health issues of common concern (ibid., para. 19). The SecretaryGeneral reiterated his call upon both community leaders to make efforts to create a climate conducive to achieving greater economic and social parity between the two sides and to widen and deepen economic, social, cultural, sporting or similar ties and contacts, including with a view to encouraging trade, promoting trust between the communities and helping to address the Turkish Cypriots’ concerns of isolation. He commended the ongoing dialogue among religious leaders, whose joint efforts fostered greater understanding and reduced 8 9 8 Varnava and Others v. Turkey and Xenides-Arestis group v. Turkey; Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, decisions adopted at the 1265th meeting on 20-21 September 2016 (CM/Del/Dec(2016)1265/H46-30 and 31(2016)) on the cases of Varnava and Others v. Turkey and Xenides-Arestis group v. Turkey. See also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 26. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, Norwegian Refugee Council, Global Report on Internal Displacement 2016, May 2016, p. 97.