A/HRC/34/15 33. Progress on the implementation of confidence-building measures agreed to and announced by the leaders in 2015 has been mixed. The requirement to fill in administrative forms at crossing points was lifted immediately and considerable progress in demining was made in 2015. While initial work was carried out around agreed new crossing points and on the interconnectivity of electricity grids, no progress has been made on the interoperability of mobile telephones to date (S/2016/598, para. 30). D. Property rights 34. According to article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others, and no one is to be arbitrarily deprived of his property. 35. With regard to property claims in the northern part of the island, as at 30 November 2016, a total of 6,307 applications had been lodged with the Immovable Property Commission since its establishment, of which 787 were concluded through friendly settlements and 16 through formal hearings. The Commission has paid a total of £227,954,904 in compensation. Moreover, the Commission ruled for exchange and compensation in two cases, for restitution in two cases, and for restitution and compensation in five cases. In one case, it delivered a decision for restitution after the settlement of the Cyprus issue, and in another case it ruled for partial restitution. 36. During the period under review, the leaders, together with their negotiators and with teams of experts, worked particularly intensively on the property chapter of negotiations. Taking into consideration the framework announced on 27 July 2015, in which the leaders had agreed that the individual’s right to property would be respected and that there would be different alternatives for the regulation of the exercise of that right, the sides initially held the negotiations on property on the basis of their respective position papers and materials. Following detailed, serious and, at times, difficult discussions, they were able to formulate a joint paper on property. While divergences remain and are recorded in the joint paper, it is important to note that this was the first time in the talks that the sides negotiated this critical chapter on the basis of a joint document. The sides focused in particular on such issues as the categories of affected properties, definitions, criteria, and the composition and functioning of the Property Commission, which will be mandated to resolve property claims (S/2016/599, para. 10). E. Freedom of religion and cultural rights 37. 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 his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. 13 Furthermore, according to article 27, everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts as well as to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.14 13 14 10 See also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 18, and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (General Assembly resolution 36/55). See also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 15.