Human Rights Council, 26th Session
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.