A top UN-appointed human rights panel issued an appeal on Tuesday for faster progress towards finding the remains of those who disappeared during deadly violence that split the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, decades ago.
The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances said it was urgent now to accelerate “excavations and the identification and return of the remains of the missing”.
The call from the delegation of independent experts came at the end of an official visit at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Fate of loved ones
“While recognizing the considerable achievements, notably due to the longstanding work of the bi-communal Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, the search progress has slowed down in recent years, and significant challenges still remain,” they observed, in a press release from UN rights office, OHCHR.
The panel also noted that after the events of 1963-64 and 1974, which led to the island’s division into communities of Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north, “too many relatives are passing away without knowing the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones”.
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Depoliticise the issue
The Working Group emphasised that “it is essential to depoliticise the issue of missing persons in Cyprus and genuinely treat it as a human rights and humanitarian issue”.
They added that more effective results can only be achieved through “an unconditional commitment among all concerned stakeholders to fully cooperate towards its solution and to give the rights of victims and their relatives top priority. Time is running out.”
Underlining the need to leave mistrust and resentment behind, to “finally put an end to the anguish and pain of all families”, the panel said that bicommunal initiatives aimed at reconciliation and social cohesion, need to be given full and unconditional support.
Truth for the victims
The experts also noted some recent dialogue in Cyprus, especially within the civil society community, on the establishment of a truth-telling mechanism, which could clarify the facts and circumstances of the disappearances.
“Virtually all stakeholders we have met have underlined the importance to establish the truth for the victims, the relatives and the society as a whole”, they said, adding a recommendation to all stakeholders to give due consideration to this idea, which could also be conducive to reconciliation.
Truth and reparations paramount
The experts highlighted that “no progress has been made in relation to criminal investigations and prosecutions for human rights violations resulting in individuals going missing, including possible enforced disappearances”.
The panel pointed out that together with ascertaining the truth, reparations and honouring the memory of those who have disappeared, Cyprus needed to add accountability.
In relation to prevention of enforced disappearances, the Working Group expressed concern over information they had received “on pushbacks both at sea and at the Green Line”, the demilitarized zone dividing the two communities, since 1964.
While noting the challenges posed by an increased number of arrivals on the island, they recalled that “international law clearly prohibits the return of any person where there are substantial grounds to believe that they would be in danger of enforced disappearance.”
The experts further called for the creation of an adequate legal framework as a measure of prevention of enforced disappearances.
The experts who issued the statement were all appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The UN Working Group on the issue is composed of Luciano Hazan (Chair-Rapporteur), Aua Baldé (Vice Chair), Gabriella Citroni, Henrikas Mickevičius Mr. Tae-Ung Bai. The independent experts are neither UN staff, nor do they receive a salary from the Organization.
Nora Chambers, an acclaimed journalist with a focus on global affairs and humanitarian issues, has dedicated over twenty years to reporting from conflict zones worldwide. Her work has spotlighted marginalized communities and highlighted urgent international concerns.
The urgent appeal for faster progress in finding the remains of missing persons in Cyprus is crucial. It’s heartbreaking that too many relatives are still passing away without closure on the fate of their loved ones. The efforts must be intensified to bring closure and justice to the families affected by this tragedy.
The urgency to expedite excavations and the identification and return of the remains of the missing in Cyprus is paramount. The slow progress in recent years is concerning, and too many families are still left without closure. It’s time for swift action to bring peace to the hearts of those affected.
It is crucial to expedite the excavations and identification of the missing persons in Cyprus. The families have been waiting for closure for far too long, and time is running out for many. The international community must prioritize this issue and provide the necessary resources for a swift resolution.
Isn’t it crucial to ensure timely action in resolving the Cyprus’ missing persons issue? How can individuals contribute to expediting the process of finding and identifying the remains?
Ensuring timely action in resolving the Cyprus’ missing persons issue is indeed crucial. Individuals can contribute by supporting organizations involved in the search efforts and by raising awareness about the importance of finding and identifying the remains quickly.
It is crucial that the search for the missing persons in Cyprus is expedited without delay. Families have been waiting for decades to find closure and know the fate of their loved ones. The international community must ensure that the necessary resources are allocated to speed up the identification and return of the remains. Time is of the essence in resolving this long-standing humanitarian issue.
The urgency to accelerate the search for the missing persons in Cyprus cannot be overstated. It’s heartbreaking that too many families are still left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones. More efforts are crucial to bring closure and justice to those affected.
Could the recent slowdown in search progress be attributed to lack of resources or cooperation among the involved parties?
Hey EmilySmith123, the recent slowdown in search progress might be due to a combination of factors, including resource limitations and challenges in cooperation among the parties involved. It’s crucial for all stakeholders to work together effectively to speed up the process and bring closure to the families of the missing individuals.
In my opinion, it is imperative that we expedite the search for the remains of the missing individuals in Cyprus. The families of the victims deserve closure, and it is crucial to provide them with answers after all these years of uncertainty. I support the efforts of the UN-appointed human rights panel in pushing for faster progress in resolving this longstanding issue.
It is imperative that urgent action is taken to accelerate the excavation and identification of the remains of the missing individuals in Cyprus. The slow progress in recent years is unacceptable, and it is heartbreaking that so many relatives are passing away without closure on the fate of their loved ones. Let’s hope for a swift resolution to this longstanding issue.
It’s heartbreaking to think of all the families still waiting for closure after all these years. The urgency to accelerate the searches and return the remains of the missing is critical to bring peace to their loved ones. The efforts must be intensified to provide answers and solace to those affected. It’s time to prioritize this important task and ensure justice is served.
It’s heartbreaking to see that so many families are still left in the dark about the fate of their missing loved ones. Action needs to be taken swiftly to bring closure and peace to those affected by the tragic events on the island of Cyprus.