A/HRC/43/22 enabling environment for their development. The Civil Society Forum was also convened every three months, providing a platform where civil society organizations could express their expectations and priorities. The Commission supported a number of active citizenship initiatives and civil society actions in fields such as peace and reconciliation, human rights, art and the environment.36 58. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media maintained his engagement on the Cyprus media dialogue project, which involves work with journalists from both communities to promote quality journalism. In October 2019, within the framework of the project, the Representative launched the second exchange opportunity for journalists from the two communities. It will provide for eight Greek Cypriot journalists to work at a Turkish Cypriot media outlet, and for seven Turkish Cypriot journalists to work at a Greek Cypriot media outlet, during which participants will immerse themselves in another newsroom and report on a local story that they will later share in their home media. The exchange aims to encourage dialogue, and contribute to media diversity and the free flow of information by providing media content about the life of both communities to the Cypriot public.37 59. The Representative on Freedom of the Media raised concern about journalists Şener Levent and Ali Osman Tabak of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika. On 22 April 2019, he issued a statement to condemn the five-year prison sentence they faced for insulting and defaming the Turkish President. He subsequently welcomed the decision to acquit the journalists on 17 May 2019.38 At the time of the present report, an appeal remained pending against the journalists. G. Right to education 60. According to article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to education; education should be directed to the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; it should promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.39 The Declaration also provides that parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that is given to their children. 61. The European Commission maintained its economic development programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, which included schemes to promote their right to education. In 2018, the Commission continued to implement projects to improve teaching and learning capacities in schools, lifelong learning projects to improve professional capacities and employability and school projects to enhance the social inclusion and mobility of children with special needs. The Commission also continued its scholarship scheme for the Turkish Cypriot community, in order to address the limited access of Turkish Cypriot students to European Union exchange and educational programmes. During the 2018/19 academic year, it funded 171 scholarships or undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and professionals. The Commission noted that the continuity of the scheme is considered vital and that there is strong demand for information on the European Union in the Turkish Cypriot community. 40 36 37 38 39 40 12 European Commission, Report from the Commission to the Council, COM(2019) 322 final, 5 July 2019, section 4.2.3. OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, “Regular Report to the Permanent Council”, 21 November 2019, pp. 6, 13 and 41. OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, “Regular Report to the Permanent Council”, 4 July 2019, p. 16. See also the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, articles 13 and 14, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, articles 28 and 29. European Commission, Report from the Commission to the Council, COM(2019) 322 final, 5 July 2019, sections 4.2.2 and 4.2.4.