A/HRC/19/22 I. Introduction 1. On 13 February 1975, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 4 (XXXI) on the question of human rights in Cyprus, in which the Commission, inter alia, called upon all parties concerned to adhere strictly to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international instruments in the field of human rights and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council and to take urgent measures for the return of all refugees to their homes in safety. In the subsequent resolution 4 (XXXII) of 27 February 1976, the Commission recommended that the communities do their utmost to find a just and lasting peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem based on respect of the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus, which solution would also guarantee the full enjoyment in mutual confidence by the whole population of Cyprus of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. 2. Furthermore, in its resolution 1987/50 of 11 March 1987, the Commission on Human Rights 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; 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; and requested the SecretaryGeneral to provide the Commission, at its forty-fourth session, with information relevant to the implementation of resolution 1987/50. Reports on the question of human rights in Cyprus were presented annually to the Commission and, since 2007, to the Human Rights Council.1 3. As at 30 November 2011, Cyprus remains divided, with a buffer zone maintained by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The UNFICYP mandate, which is contained in Security Council resolution 186 (1964), has been extended by successive Council resolutions. In resolution 1986 (2011), the Council decided to extend the mandate for a further period ending 15 December 2011. 4. UNFICYP has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to the communities, including to Greek Cypriots and Maronites living in the north and Turkish Cypriots living in the south of the island. Assistance continued to be sought from the mission in addressing day-to-day issues arising from the division of the island, including in relation to economic, educational, medical and social matters. Furthermore, UNFICYP facilitated religious and commemorative events and assisted in addressing legal and humanitarian concerns resulting from the arrest and detention of Turkish Cypriots in the south and Greek Cypriots in the north. 2 UNFICYP has also maintained efforts to build trust between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, including in the mixed village of Pyla in the buffer zone. 3 Furthermore, building on previous cooperation, the Turkish Cypriot community of Louroujina village and the Greek Cypriot community of Athienou launched an initiative to restore a medieval chapel in the buffer zone. 4 In order to support 1 2 3 4 4 E/CN.4/1186; E/CN.4/1239; E/CN.4/1275; E/CN.4/1323; E/CN.4/1373; E/CN.4/1442; E/CN.4/1982/8; E/CN.4/1983/23; E/CN.4/1984/31; E/CN.4/1985/22; E/CN.4/1986/26; E/CN.4/1987/19; E/CN.4/1988/27; E/CN.4/1989/28; E/CN.4/1990/21; E/CN.4/1991/27; E/CN.4/1992/25; E/CN.4/1993/36; E/CN.4/1994/46; E/CN.4/1995/69; E/CN.4/1996/54; E/CN.4/1997/48; E/CN.4/1998/55; E/CN.4/1999/25; E/CN.4/2000/26; E/CN.4/2001/31; E/CN.4/2002/33; E/CN.4/2003/31; E/CN.4/2004/27; E/CN.4/2005/30; E/CN.4/2006/31; A/HRC/4/59; A/HRC/7/46; A/HRC/10/37; A/HRC/13/24; A/HRC/16/21. S/2011/332, para. 13; S/2011/746, para. 18. S/2011/332, para. 20; S/2011/746, para. 22. S/2011/746, para. 22.