Content_paragraphs:  The 12 bicommunal technical committees formed by the leaders to build 
  
  confidence and improve the daily lives of Cypriots continued to function under the 
  
  auspices of my good offices mission, which has, with the support of UNFICYP, 
  
  continued to coordinate and facilitate their work towards ensuring dialogue and 
  
  cooperation between the two sides. Through regular meetings with the coordinators of 
  
  the technical committees from both sides, the mission noted increased attention being 
  
  paid by both sides to the revitalization of these bodies. The COVID-19 outbreak on the 
  
  island, however, coupled with corresponding restrictive measures to prevent further 
  
  spread of the virus, negatively affected the work of the committees. The implementation 
  
  of several ongoing projects, as well as face-to-face meetings and activities, have been 
  
  either indefinitely suspended or postponed. Nevertheless, more than half of the 
  
  technical committees, including those addressing health, cultural heritage, education, 
  
  the environment, culture and gender equality, remained engaged through online 
  
  meetings, issuing statements and drafting proposals for intended projects. While other 
  
  technical committees met only once or twice during the reporting period, one of the 
  
  committees, the Technical Committee on Crossings, did not meet at all.