The persisting division of Cyprus continues to obstruct the full enjoyment of human rights by all people across the island, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, said while presenting his annual report on the question of human rights in Cyprus to the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, on Friday. He noted that the Turkish Cypriot community continues to be 'disproportionately affected by discrimination', including at the crossing points, and the issue of citizenship for children of Turkish Cypriots who were born in mixed marriages, while the Technical Committee on Education would resume its meetings without delay. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that, 'the persisting division of Cyprus continues to obstruct the full enjoyment of human rights by all people across the island'. He noted that the Turkish Cypriot community 'continues to be disproportionately affected by discrimination', including at the crossing points between the southern and northern parts of Cyprus. 'They still fa ce obstacles to exercising their voting rights in the southern part of Cyprus, while citizenship applications for children of Turkish Cypriots who were born in mixed marriages and reside in the northern part of Cyprus continue to be delayed or denied', he added. 'The socioeconomic disparity between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community continues to grow, with the Turkish Cypriot community more deeply impacted', Trk said. Although crossing points continued to function, he noted, their number remains insufficient, 'resulting in long queues that affect the right to freedom of movement and impact daily exchanges between the two communities'. Trk said he encourages all relevant stakeholders to advance deeper economic ties and to nourish intercommunal contacts. He also noted that peace education was 'key', and expressed hope that education reform can be reinvigorated. 'I hope that the Technical Committee on Education will resume its plenary meetings without delay, implement the recommenda tions contained in its 2017 joint report, and undertake efforts to advance peace education throughout the island', he added. Trk also said that, despite the challenges, he was 'pleased to hear' of ongoing efforts to advance human rights for all people in Cyprus, noting that, religious actors have led joint efforts to protect the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers, and unaccompanied minors. 'I continue to urge all parties to ensure that a human rights-based approach underpins their mutual dialogue and cooperation, including with regard to the work of the bicommunal technical committees', he said. Working towards trust, social cohesion and the realisation of human rights for all 'will be essential' to supporting and advancing renewed efforts to achieve a just, sustainable and peaceful solution to the island's ongoing division, he concluded. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The la test round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Columbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency