A/HRC/34/56/Add.1 In the north 54. The Special Rapporteur received extensive documentation and testimonies about churches, monasteries, cemeteries and archaeological sites that continue to deteriorate. She visited the Agia Marina church, a small Orthodox church situated in Yialousa/Yeni Erenköy. The church, reportedly like many others in the north, is in a very bad state, with a fragile structure. Once looted, it is now full of rubbish and pigeon droppings and left neglected. 55. The Special Rapporteur also heard concerns expressed by Armenian representatives about, in particular, the state of the Sourp Magar (Magavarank) monastery, dating from the tenth century, which has been left to deteriorate. Some keystones and roof tiles of the building have allegedly been removed intentionally to cause and accelerate the collapse of the building. Concerns were also expressed about, inter alia, the Armenian church in Famagusta/Gazimağusa, which the community cannot access to and take care of, as well as the convent in the Arabahmet church complex, which has not been restored and is home to hundreds of pigeons (although its structure is physically supported to prevent collapse). 56. Many stakeholders expressed concern about the inappropriate use of a number of churches, in particular Orthodox churches, turned, for example, into barns. Such uses not only accelerate the deterioration of the buildings, but are also particularly inappropriate for venues considered sacred by others. The Armenian community also regrets that the Armenian Evangelical church in Nicosia was turned into a bank and then a music school and that two schools of the Arabahmet church complex have been turned into universities, with no mention of their original use. The Special Rapporteur also notes the comments made by cultural heritage professionals and some members of religious groups that in some cases respectful use is, in fact, important in maintaining the buildings. 57. The Special Rapporteur is encouraged by the fact that she also met people in the north, from all backgrounds, who care deeply for cultural heritage, including that of others and of those who had left, for example in the walled city of Famagusta/Gazimağusa. 2. Enhancing the human rights approach to cultural heritage 58. A human rights approach to cultural heritage focuses on the relationships between people and heritage, as well as on the prevention of destruction, education about the importance of the heritage of all and full support for cultural heritage defenders. (a) The restoration programme as a path toward reconciliation 59. The 2008 agreement between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots under the auspices of the United Nations paved the way for the establishment of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage. The Committee works to provide a mutually acceptable mechanism for the proper preservation, physical protection and restoration of the diverse immovable cultural heritage of Cyprus. It promotes and applies a holistic and bicommunal approach when selecting the monuments to be protected. In doing so, it complements the regular work conducted by the authorities. 60. The Special Rapporteur welcomes such an initiative, which is necessary to pave the way to reconciliation. She salutes the work undertaken so far with the support of the European Union and UNDP. She further appreciates that the mandate of the Technical Committee includes the development of respect for cultural heritage through educational programmes. That is crucial, as the younger generations have not experienced past social interactions, are used to the status quo and are reportedly exposed to narratives of mistrust of others, including through the educational system. 61. Cultural heritage professionals, including the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, need full political and financial support to complete their work. The Special Rapporteur was concerned that one Greek Cypriot member of this Technical Committee had reportedly been labelled a Turk in a political cartoon in the media because of his work. Similarly, a Turkish Cypriot member said he had been called a Greek. 11