A/HRC/28/20 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 23 January 2015 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-eighth session Agenda item 2 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of human rights in Cyprus Note by the Secretary-General Summary In the present report, which covers the period from 1 December 2013 to 30 November 2014, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlights the concerns voiced by international and regional human rights mechanisms at factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of international human rights standards on the whole island owing to the protracted conflict. It gives an overview of specific human rights concerns in Cyprus, including with regard to the right to life and the question of missing persons, the principle of non-discrimination, freedom of movement, property rights, freedom of religion and cultural rights, freedom of opinion and expression and the right to education. Moreover, it provides an update on activities conducted to promote the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), in which the Council called upon all actors involved to adopt a gender perspective when negotiating and implementing peace agreements. The Office of the High Commissioner notes some positive developments witnessed during the period under review, including progress in the identification and return of the remains of missing persons, an improved climate of interreligious communication and cooperation and progress in conservation works of cultural heritage sites on the whole island. The persisting division, however, still hinders the full enjoyment, in mutual confidence by the whole population of Cyprus, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Office concludes that human rights do not have any borders and that all stakeholders are thus obliged to uphold the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all people. It reiterates the importance of addressing all human rights protection gaps and the underlying human rights issues in situations of protracted conflict. GE.15-00898 (E) 