On 4 March 2026, three United Nations Special Rapporteurs issued formal communications to both the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders regarding obstacles and political interference affecting the implementation of the bicommunal peace education programme Imagine. The communications were sent under the Special Procedures mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, through which independent UN human rights experts intervene directly with governments and authorities concerning alleged human rights violations and failures to comply with international human rights standards.

You can find the letters here:

AL CYP (1.2026)

AL OTH (11.2026)

The letters were signed by:

  • Bernard Duhaime, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
  • Alexandra Xanthaki, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
  • Farida Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education

The Rapporteurs describe the situation surrounding Imagine as a matter of serious concern, emphasizing that attacks, delays, and political obstruction against the programme risk undermining peacebuilding efforts, weakening prospects for reconciliation, and reversing progress made in fostering trust between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities since 2017.

The UN experts call on both sides to facilitate the reinstatement and unhindered operation of the programme within its previous bicommunal framework, stressing that Imagine constitutes an important preventive and peacebuilding mechanism that should receive political and institutional support rather than obstruction.

Importantly, both communications clearly state that the respective authorities were given 60 days to respond before the letters and any responses would become public through the UN reporting system. As of today, neither side has submitted a public response to the Special Rapporteurs’ concerns.

How the Rapporteurs Describe the “Imagine” Programme

The letters provide extensive recognition of the programme and its role in Cyprus. The Rapporteurs note that:

  • Imagine was established in 2016 and placed under the auspices of the Bi-communal Technical Committee on Education in 2017, with the agreement of both community leaders.
  • The programme is implemented by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and the Home for Cooperation, with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office.
  • The programme promotes intercultural dialogue, critical thinking, equality, non-discrimination, pluralism, anti-racism, mutual understanding and a culture of peace and solidarity.
  • More than 8,000 students and 2,600 teachers have participated in the programme to date.
  • The initiative has been recognized repeatedly in UN reports as a key confidence-building measure contributing to peace and reconciliation in Cyprus.
  • The Rapporteurs explicitly describe Imagine as “the single operational mechanism in Cyprus that systematically fosters trust between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.”

The letters therefore frame Imagine not simply as an educational initiative, but as an internationally recognized peacebuilding and non-recurrence mechanism linked directly to broader obligations concerning reconciliation, coexistence, and the prevention of future conflict.

Concerns Addressed to the Greek Cypriot leader

The communication to the Greek Cypriot leader focuses primarily on:

  1. The significant delay in issuing the Ministry of Education circular permitting participation of Greek Cypriot schools in Imagine activities for the 2025–2026 academic year; and
  2. Public campaigns of misinformation and divisive rhetoric directed against the programme and its bicommunal student exchange visits.

The Rapporteurs note that:

  • The circular was issued only on 18 February 2026, halfway through the academic year, marking the first such delay since the programme’s establishment.
  • Media outlets, politicians, nationalist groups and public figures allegedly spread misinformation and divisive rhetoric, especially regarding visits to the northern part of the island.
  • These attacks reportedly created a “climate of fear” that led schools to withdraw from planned bicommunal activities.

The UN experts express concern that such developments undermine guarantees of non-recurrence and weaken efforts toward peace and coexistence. They further stress that states have obligations under international human rights law to support educational and cultural initiatives that promote dialogue, mutual understanding and democratic citizenship.

The Greek Cypriot leadership was specifically asked to explain:

  • The reasons behind the delayed circular;
  • Measures taken to address misinformation and hostile rhetoric;
  • Steps taken to ensure accurate public information about Imagine;
  • Progress in implementing the 2017 recommendations of the Technical Committee on Education; and
  • Broader measures adopted to prevent the recurrence of violence and serious human rights violations through education and institutional reforms.

Concerns Addressed to the Turkish Cypriot Authorities

The separate communication to the Turkish Cypriot authorities focuses on the continued suspension of participation in the programme since October 2022.

The Rapporteurs recall that:

  • Turkish Cypriot authorities suspended participation through a circular issued on 31 October 2022, arguing that aspects of the programme conflicted with the policy of “sovereign equality” and “two separate authorities/states.”
  • The programme has not been reinstated in Turkish Cypriot schools since then.

The UN experts state that this continued withdrawal has “significantly hindered the delivery of the project” despite repeated calls by the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General and international actors for the urgent resumption of collaboration.

The Turkish Cypriot authorities were asked to:

  • Explain the reasons for the continued suspension;
  • Clarify whether any review or reconsideration of the decision is underway;
  • Provide information on implementation of the Technical Committee’s 2017 recommendations; and
  • Explain what measures are being taken in education, culture and institutional reform to prevent recurrence of violence and human rights violations.

Broader Human Rights and Peacebuilding Framework

The Rapporteurs situate the developments surrounding the Imagine programme within a broader international human rights and peacebuilding framework centred on peace education, democratic citizenship, cultural rights, the prevention of hatred and discrimination, and guarantees of non-recurrence following past violence and human rights violations.

The communications repeatedly stress that education systems and public discourse play a crucial role in either fostering reconciliation or deepening division and hostility. In this context, the Rapporteurs underline that states and authorities have a positive obligation to promote human rights education, intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and coexistence, while also addressing hate speech, incitement, and divisive rhetoric that may undermine social cohesion and peacebuilding efforts.

The UN experts emphasize that:

“Measures in the field of education should help nurture dialogue, democratic citizenship and respect for human rights.”

They further stress that:

“States should also adopt policies in the fields of culture and the media aimed at promoting mutual understanding, cultural diversity and coexistence.”

The letters also recall repeated calls by the UN Security Council for both sides in Cyprus to intensify efforts in peace education, empower the Technical Committee on Education, support bicommunal cooperation, jointly review educational materials, and strengthen meaningful youth participation in the peace process.

The Rapporteurs additionally warn that failure to take such measures may carry serious implications under international human rights law, stating that:

“Negligence in these matters, whether by action or omission, may lead to the State being in breach of international law.”

Significance of the UN Intervention

The intervention by three UN Special Rapporteurs represents one of the most significant international human rights interventions concerning peace education and bicommunal cooperation in Cyprus in recent years.

The letters:

  • formally place both leaderships under international human rights scrutiny;
  • frame obstruction of Imagine as a matter connected to human rights obligations and peacebuilding commitments;
  • acknowledge Imagine as a unique and internationally recognized confidence-building mechanism;
  • and call explicitly for the restoration and protection of the programme’s operational framework.

The communications and any official replies are intended to become public through the UN Special Procedures reporting system and may also be reflected in future reports to the UN Human Rights Council.