A/HRC/31/21 all citizens of a future, united Cyprus. Recognizing the interdependent nature of the issues, the leaders also agreed to set their sights on a future in which all citizens of a united Cyprus can coexist and live together in peace and prosperity. 6. For the purpose of the present report, in the absence of an OHCHR field presence in Cyprus, OHCHR has relied on a variety of sources with particular knowledge of the human rights situation on the island, and on recent findings of international and regional human rights mechanisms. UNFICYP, the Secretary-General’s good offices, the Secretariat of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and various stakeholders have been consulted in the preparation of the report. II. Challenges for the implementation of international human rights standards in a protracted conflict 7. In the period under review, various United Nations human rights mechanisms have voiced their concerns at the factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of international human rights standards on the whole island owing to the protracted conflict. In that regard, United Nations treaty bodies, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review made recommendations to or received follow-up information from Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot authorities and Turkey. 8. In response to the Human Rights Committee’s question concerning measures taken to avoid a human rights protection gap resulting from the protracted conflict in both the northern and southern parts of the island, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus indicated in a document received on 22 December 2014 that it was not in a position to apply and ensure the implementation of human rights in the whole of its territory (see CCPR/C/CYP/Q/4/Add.1, para. 6). In its concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Cyprus, adopted on 31 March 2015, the Human Rights Committee raised among principal matters of concern the small number of Turkish Cypriots in the civil service; reported discrimination on the basis of nationality and ethnicity; and alleged undue interference with freedom of movement, the right to vote, minority rights and access to places of worship (see CCPR/C/CYP/CO/4, paras. 5-7, 10, 17-18 and 22-23). 9. In 2015, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief published a followup table on steps taken to implement his recommendations to the various stakeholders, following his 2012 mission to the island.3 Information received from the Government of the Republic of Cyprus referred, inter alia, to the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations to better support the Muslim communities in the southern part; to further subsidize the infrastructure needed for upholding religious community life; and to respect pilgrimages as an inextricable part of freedom of religion or belief (see A/HRC/22/51/Add.1, paras. 7677). Information received from the Turkish Cypriot authorities referred, inter alia, to the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations to refrain from any behaviour that could have an intimidating effect on religious communities’ activities; to revise existing restrictions on the accessibility of religious buildings, sites or cemeteries; to diligently investigate allegations of vandalism of religious sites and cemeteries; to handle heritage claims of Christian minorities in a fair and transparent manner; and to respect the right of religious leaders to visit their communities in the northern part without undue restrictions (ibid., paras. 81-85). 10. During the twenty-first session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, held in January 2015, the Government of Turkey received several 3 See www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Religion/FollowUpCyprus.pdf. 3