A/HRC/43/22 51. With respect to the south, the Government continued to support the crossing of pilgrims to Hala Sultan Tekke mosque in Larnaca. The Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, with the facilitation of UNFICYP, coordinated three special pilgrimages to Hala Sultan Tekke during the reporting period, involving around 1,400 pilgrims of Turkish origin who are otherwise unable to cross to the Government-controlled areas of Cyprus. 52. During the meeting of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, the Government of Cyprus noted that great importance was attached to the protection of cultural heritage and its linkage to the enjoyment of cultural rights (A/HRC/41/15, para. 19). It accepted recommendations to strengthen efforts to promote interreligious dialogue and understanding, and to ensure the accessibility of religious sites and the enjoyment of freedom of religion and cultural rights for all, without any discrimination. It also accepted recommendations regarding campaigns and educational programmes to raise awareness of cultural rights and cultural heritage. 33 53. The bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage pursued its work for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage sites with the support of UNDP and the European Commission. It completed a number of restoration works and projects, including at Saint Anne’s Church and Tanners’ Mosque in Famagusta. In February 2019, the Committee worked effectively with the two Nicosia municipalities and representatives of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, with support from UNFICYP, to address the partial collapse of a tenth-century church in central Nicosia. In addition, the Committee launched the Heritage Youth Ambassadors initiative, whereby young Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots endeavour to bring young people together to cooperate and work together on their shared heritage (S/2019/562, paras. 25 and 28). F. Freedom of opinion and expression 54. According to article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. That right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. 34 55. The Government of Cyprus took note of the recommendation, received during the meeting of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, to review the Law on the Procedure for Standardization of Geographical Names. The law, which criminalizes the publication of place names that are different from those specified in official documents, has been the subject of concern by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and the Human Rights Committee as incompatible with the right to freedom of expression. 35 In its views on the recommendations received during the universal periodic review, the Government asserted that: “The national legislation in place aims to discourage and halt any attempts to further decimate the cultural heritage in the occupied areas of Cyprus” (A/HRC/41/15/Add.1, para. 36). 56. As noted by the Secretary-General, the Security Council has made numerous recommendations to the sides regarding strengthening the participation of civil society, in particular women and young people, as a key element of peacebuilding. The SecretaryGeneral has urged the sides to do more to promote and support such initiatives. He has also encouraged the engagement of civil society to bring momentum to the process, as well as the development of novel ideas to help bridge persistent differences (S/2019/562, paras. 45 and 54, and S/2019/37, para. 49). 57. The European Commission maintained its economic development programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, which included support to civil society. In 2018, the civic space project continued to build the capacity of civil society organizations and promote an 33 34 35 A/HRC/41/15, paras. 139.31, 139.54, 139.90 and 139.124, and A/HRC/41/15/Add.1, paras. 18 and 22. See also the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 19. See A/HRC/34/56/Add.1, paras. 48 and 106, and CCPR/C/CYP/CO/4, para. 21. 11