A/HRC/43/22 E. Freedom of religion or belief and cultural rights 46. 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 their religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest their religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.29 Furthermore, article 27 provides that everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.30 47. The religious leaders of Cyprus sustained their commitment to peacebuilding and religious freedom within the framework of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden. They have worked to build trust and confidence among their respective faith communities, who are divided because of the conflict, and they have conducted several activities and projects under the Faith for Rights framework.31 These included two seminars in December 2018 and October 2019, organized in cooperation with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), for religious leaders and representatives of faith communities on international standards of freedom of religion or belief, including the relationship with freedom of expression. The seminar in October 2019 featured a special session on women’s rights and freedom of religion or belief, as well as a training seminar for 20 youth and students from the five main faith communities of Cyprus. In October 2019, the Religious Track also organized a Faith for Rights seminar on the role that faith communities can play in combating human trafficking and supporting victims, in follow-up to the 2017 statement by the religious leaders condemning all forms of violence against women and girls.32 48. The religious leaders also publicly denounced the terrorist attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and issued statements condemning instances of any advocacy of hatred that incites violence, discrimination or hostility in the name of religion or belief. The Religious Track has been using social media as a tool to increase the outreach in promoting respect for all faith traditions in Cyprus, in line with the Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments on Faith for Rights (A/HRC/40/58, annexes I–II). As an additional way to advocate jointly for the right to access and worship across the island, the religious leaders advised and were consulted by an academic researcher in a project mapping Christian and Muslim sites of religious heritage in Cyprus. 49. With respect to the northern part of Cyprus, access to sites to hold religious services and other commemorative activities is facilitated by UNFICYP, upon request. The Turkish Cypriot authorities have maintained the six criteria outlined in the document entitled “The criteria for granting permits to conduct religious services in the TRNC”, which have raised concerns regarding the accessibility of religious sites and the enjoyment of freedom of religion and cultural rights (A/HRC/37/22, para. 43). During the reporting period, a total of 129 requests for religious services and events in the northern part of the island were submitted to UNFICYP for facilitation, of which 87 were approved. Four additional religious sites that had been inaccessible since 1974 were opened for worship for the first time. 50. UNFICYP also facilitated religious services and other commemorative events in the buffer zone, seven of which took place during the reporting period. For the first time since 1963, this included the opportunity for former Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of Dhenia village to hold prayers at Dhenia mosque, where they were warmly welcomed by Greek Cypriot residents (S/2019/562, para. 33). 29 30 31 32 10 See also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 18, and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, article 1. See also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, article 15. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/FaithForRights.aspx. See www.religioustrack.com/joint-statement-condeming-violence-against-women-and-girls.html.