A/HRC/28/20 C. Freedom of movement 29. According to article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State, as well as the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. 32 30. In Cyprus, however, crossings between the northern and the southern parts of the island are still possible only through (currently seven) official crossing points, a situation that obviously limits the freedom of movement. Between 1 December 2013 and 31 October 2014, UNFICYP reported more than 1,370,000 official crossings through the buffer zone. The Committee on Crossings, which was tasked by the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders to reach an agreement on new crossing points, did not meet during the period under review; despite the engagement of UNFICYP with both sides, their positions on the location of any new crossing points remained irreconcilable. In this regard, in July 2014, the Human Rights Committee asked for information on steps taken by the Government of Cyprus to reach an agreement with Turkish Cypriot leaders on new crossing points, and to provide information about the meetings of the Committee on Crossings since December 2010.33 31. In its concluding observations on Cyprus, the Committee against Torture was concerned by information about obstacles that impeded Turkish Cypriot prisoners detained in the southern part of the island receiving visits from family and friends. 34 Furthermore, in July 2014, the Human Rights Committee asked the Government of Cyprus for information about restrictions on crossing the Green Line that have been imposed on settlers from Turkey and their descendants, who were born in the northern part of the island, which are de facto hindrances to their undertaking pilgrimages and visiting Turkish Cypriot prisoners held in the southern part of the island.35 32. In its tenth report on the implementation of the Green Line Regulation (EC) No. 866/2004, the European Commission noted an increase in the number of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots crossing the Green Line in 2013 when compared with previous years. The Commission stated that the vast majority of the crossings had taken place smoothly, with fewer incidents reported than in 2012, but that they remained a source of concern to the Turkish Cypriot community. 36 Furthermore, with UNFICYP support, important steps were taken to facilitate the practice of religious worship, and religious leaders benefited from easier crossing possibilities in both directions. D. Property rights 33. According to article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others, and no one is to be arbitrarily deprived of his property. 32 33 34 35 36 10 See also International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 12. CCPR/C/CYP/Q/4, para. 18. CAT/C/CYP/CO/4, para. 15. See also the submission dated 10 April 2014 by the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation to the Committee against Torture (available from http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/CYP/INT_CAT_CSS_CYP_17013_ E.pdf). CCPR/C/CYP/Q/4, para. 19. Report from the Commission to the Council, COM(2014) 280 final, pp. 2-4.