A/HRC/34/56/Add.1 Rapporteur met some members of the Technical Committees on cultural heritage, on education, on culture and on gender, and salutes their work. Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process 14. The Cyprus conflict is not, per se, a religious conflict. Some religious leaders, however, have committed to working together for human rights, peace and reconciliation through the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, a peacebuilding initiative conducted under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden. 15. The Religious Track has led to regular meetings of the five main religious leaders of Cyprus (Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Armenian, Latin and Maronite) and enabled important breakthroughs for human rights, including the right to access sites of religious, cultural and historic significance. For example, within its framework, seven special pilgrimages to the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque of persons of Turkish origin residing in the north of Cyprus have been organized since 2014, as well as pilgrimages of orthodox believers to the cathedral of the Apostolos Barnabas monastery located in the north. 1 16. Various stakeholders repeatedly expressed concerns, however, about any process enhancing the role of religious leaders vis-à-vis others. They stressed the complete lack of women religious leaders (which was explicitly justified to the Special Rapporteur on religious grounds in one instance by a religious leader), the fact that secularism is also an important part of Cypriot culture for many and the existence of many other factors contributing to shaping cultural identities beyond religion. They feared that giving a prominent political role to religious leaders, even for a positive purpose, could marginalize other voices and identities. The Special Rapporteur suggests continuing support for the Religious Track, but emphasizes that it is equally important to promote actively other tracks, in particular in the fields of education and culture. Those too are critical for reconciliation. 3. Governance in the cultural area 17. In the Republic of Cyprus, many institutions defend and promote culture and cultural heritage. However, the divide made between the Department of Antiquities (Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works), and the Cultural Services (Ministry of Education and Culture) risks jeopardizing a cohesive cultural policy by separating cultural heritage and cultural life, and minimizing the human dimension of cultural heritage. 18. The structural reorganization that will ensue in case of a settlement will offer opportunities for fundamental rethinking of this issue and for enhancing links between cultural heritage and cultural life. Experts from all over Cyprus in the field of culture and cultural heritage should be fully consulted about any plan for a new cultural management structure. 4. The impact of the financial crisis 19. The Special Rapporteur expresses concern about the impact on cultural rights of the financial crisis and about financial cuts in the field of culture. She notes with particular concern the lack of sufficient funding for governmental institutions, such as the Department of Antiquities, the Ombudsman and the Cultural Services, as well as cultural authorities in the north. The 45 per cent budget cut to the Department of Cultural Services since 2013 appears disproportionate and risks greatly undermining the enjoyment of cultural rights. 1 See Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, available from www.religioustrack.com. See in particular, press releases of 11 June and 15 September 2016. 5