Three United Nations Special Rapporteurs have written simultaneously to the Republic of Cyprus and the “authorities” in the occupied north over the obstruction of Imagine, a bicommunal peace education programme — and, according to a summary of the communications, neither side has responded.
The letters, dated 4 March 2026, were sent under the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures mechanism and signed by Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; and Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education.
Both communications will be made public through the UN reporting system at the 60-day mark. The summary notes that as of May 11, neither the Republic of Cyprus nor the Turkish Cypriot “authorities” had submitted a public response.
The Rapporteurs describe Imagine as “the single operational mechanism in Cyprus that systematically fosters trust” between the two communities and call on both sides to reinstate it to its prior operational framework. They warn that negligence in upholding peace education obligations “may lead to the State being in breach of international law.”
Ministry delayed circular for first time
The letter to the Republic of Cyprus raises two concerns: the Ministry of Education’s failure to issue the annual circular authorising Greek Cypriot schools to participate in Imagine activities for the 2025-2026 academic year, and a public campaign of misinformation and divisive rhetoric against the programme.
The circular was eventually issued on 18 February 2026, halfway through the school year — the first time the Ministry had failed to issue it on time since the programme was established.
According to information received by the Rapporteurs, Greek Cypriot media, parliamentarians, political parties and nationalist groups employed divisive rhetoric and misinformation in February and March 2025, directed particularly at planned student visits to the north. The attacks allegedly created a “climate of fear” that led schools to withdraw from scheduled bicommunal activities. Despite this, the programme continued through meetings held outside school hours and the development of educational materials.
The Republic of Cyprus was asked to explain the reasons for the delayed circular, detail measures taken to address misinformation and hostile rhetoric, and set out progress in implementing the 2017 recommendations of the Technical Committee on Education.
Turkish Cypriots suspended programme in 2022
The separate letter to the Turkish Cypriot “authorities” addresses their continued “withdrawal” from Imagine since October 2022, when a “circular” was issued suspending “school” participation on the grounds that aspects of the programme conflicted with the policy of sovereign equality and “two separate states” on the island.
The programme has not been reinstated in Turkish Cypriot schools since. The Rapporteurs express serious concern that the continued suspension has significantly hindered delivery of the project despite repeated calls from the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General and international partners to resume collaboration. A new “review” of the programme is reportedly under way.
The Turkish Cypriot “authorities” were asked to explain the reasons for the continued suspension, clarify whether any reconsideration is under way, and detail measures taken in education and institutional reform to prevent the recurrence of human rights violations.
About the programme
Imagine was established in 2016 and placed under the auspices of the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Education in 2017 with the agreement of the leaders of both communities. It is implemented by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research and the Home for Cooperation, and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. More than 8,000 students and 2,600 teachers have participated to date.
The UN Security Council has repeatedly called on both sides to intensify peace education efforts across the island, most recently in resolution S/RES/2815 (2026).
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