United Nations Watch
Universal Periodic Review Report on Cyprus
Agenda Item 6, UNHRC 41st Session
July 4, 2019
Delivered by Mr. Benjamin Reich

Thank you, Mr. President,
United Nations Watch joins Canada and Portugal in welcoming progress made by Cyprus in gender equality. 
We urge the government to adopt the recommendations on the protection of LGBTI persons from incitement to violence and to take further action to prevent exploitation of domestic workers. 
As documented in Paragraph 93 of the UN Compilation for this review, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed deep concern at the massive destruction of cultural heritage sites and artifacts in the northern part of Cyprus. 
Regrettably, as noted in paragraph 90, the Office of the High Commissioner has stated, in its report 37/22 of March 2018, that due to the persistent division of Cyprus, monitoring of and reporting on the human rights situation in the northern part of the island remains limited. 
As noted in that report, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is unable to ensure the application of international human rights instruments in areas not under its effective control. 
Mr. President, what this means is that the Government has no ability to remedy violations of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press that are taking place in the north. 
According to Freedom House, dissidents are silenced and imprisoned in the north by new draconian laws that invoke “anti-terrorism,” “insulting foreign state representatives,” “insulting religion,” and “insulting the president.” 
Likewise, in the parliament of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus — which is recognized by no country in the world apart from Turkey — Greek and Maronite minorities are denied the right to vote or to be elected. 
Mr. President, United Nations Watch urges continued dialogue between all parties to the conflict, toward the aim of a peaceful settlement that will ensure the full respect of human rights for all. Thank you. 

The post UN Watch Calls For Dialogue in Cyprus to Promote Human Rights appeared first on UN Watch.

UPR of Cyprus

Delivered by Leon Saltiel

 
Mr. President,
UN Watch welcomes the delegation of Cyprus and the report before us today. Cyprus has achieved significant progress in advancing human rights on the island, despite the economic crisis and the continued political and territorial division.
UN Watch supports a successful settlement of the Cyprus problem. Our Chairman, Ambassador Alfred Moses, served under President Clinton as his Special Presidential Emissary for the Cyprus Conflict and worked tirelessly to bring the two communities together.
As the High Commissioner found in her most recent report, “The persisting division of the island continues to be an obstacle to the full enjoyment in mutual confidence by the whole population of Cyprus of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. These include 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.”
A solution to the conflict would greatly advance human rights, so that Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live in peace and prosperity, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
UN Watch welcomes the efforts of the government to promote the equality of women in employment and to combat the root causes of gender inequality. We hope more consistent efforts could be put in place to reduce the gender pay gap.
In addition, the government of Cyprus has put forward measures to curb discrimination against LGBT persons and other vulnerable groups, including victims of human trafficking. We hope these could be followed up with practical professional training of law enforcement officers and a stricter legal framework.
We wish the government of Cyprus great success in implementing the UPR recommendations.
Thank you.

The post UN Watch speaks on human rights in Cyprus; hopes for end of Turkish occupation appeared first on UN Watch.