United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/22/51/Add.1 Distr.: General 24 December 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-second session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt Addendum Mission to Cyprus* Summary The present report contains the findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on his mission to the island of Cyprus, from 29 March to 5 April 2012. In the report, the Special Rapporteur gives an overview of the international human rights standards, the domestic legal framework on freedom of religion or belief and the religious demography on the island. Subsequently, he addresses issues of concern for his mandate, including the situation of Christian minorities in the northern part, Muslim minorities in the southern part and other religious minorities which are outside the ambit of bi-communalism. The Special Rapporteur points out that the overall situation has clearly improved after the opening of the checkpoints in 2003, with positive implications also for the enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief throughout the entire island. At the same time, the Special Rapporteur has identified existing challenges, such as the deplorable situation of many places of worship and cemeteries; restrictions on holding religious services and freedom of movement; deportation of people seeking asylum on religious grounds despite serious risks of persecution in their countries of origin; problems in obtaining exemption from religious instruction in schools; and with regard to the full enjoyment of the right to conscientious objection to military service. * GE.12-18993 The summary of the present report is circulated in all official languages. The report itself, contained in the annex to the summary, is circulated in the language of submission only.