COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS TO HOLD TWENTY-FIRST SESSION, 15 NOVEMBER û 3 DECEMBER
Press Release
HR/4437
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS TO HOLD TWENTY-FIRST SESSION, 15 NOVEMBER 3 DECEMBER
19991111 Background ReleaseCommittee Scheduled to Consider Efforts of Bulgaria, Cameroon, Argentina, Armenia, Mexico, Solomon Islands
(Reissued as received.)
GENEVA, 11 November (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will meet at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 15 November to 3 December to examine the measures taken by Bulgaria, Cameroon, Argentina, Armenia, Mexico and the Solomon Islands to realize those rights.
The six countries are among the 142 State parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The treaty, which entered into force in 1976, recognizes, among other things, the rights to work, to form and join trade unions, to social security, to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, to an adequate standard of living, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to an education.
In acceding to the treaty, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee on how they give effect to the provisions of the Covenant. The panel, now in its twenty-first session, evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on improving the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
In the absence of scheduled reports, the Committee may review the implementation of the treaty in a given country based on available information. In this session, the Committee will continue to review the implementation of the Covenant by the Solomon Islands, which has not submitted any report since ratifying the Covenant in 1982. The Committee began the review at its session earlier this year.
As it opens the session, the panel will discuss other substantive issues arising in the implementation of the Covenant, an exercise during which it is scheduled to hear from non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
On 29 November, the Committee will hold a day-long general discussion on the right to health and the right to education -- articles 12 and 13 of the Covenant.
Article 12 of the Covenant says State parties recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Parties agreed to take steps to reduce stillbirth and infant mortality rates, and to work towards the healthy development of the child, as well as improving all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene, the prevention, treatment and control of epidemics, and the creation of conditions which would assure medical services and medical attention in the event of sickness.
Article 13 of the Covenant says State parties recognize the right of everyone to education. The parties agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The article states that primary education shall be compulsory and available for free to all; and further education shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education.
The Committee will also consider reports from specialized agencies of the United Nations system on the progress made in State parties in achieving the observance of the provisions of the Covenant falling within the scope of their activities. The following specialized agencies, United Nations organs and financial institutions have been invited to send representatives to the twenty- first session on Friday 19 November: International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization (WHO), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
This session features the first periodic reports of Cameroon and Armenia.
Concluding Observations, Recommendations on Bulgaria, Argentina and Mexico
Following its consideration of the second periodic report of Bulgaria in October 1987, the Committee observed that the responses from the Government delegation concerning the existence of minority groups in Bulgaria had left certain issues unresolved. Committee Experts did thank the representatives for their frank and useful explanations given to the Committee and for having cooperated with the Committee in a spirit of constructive dialogue and with the common objective of implementing the rights recognized in the Covenant.
When the Committee considered the initial report of Argentina in December 1994, it welcomed the economic progress achieved by the country in recent years, especially in efforts to combat inflation, and in the areas of monetary stability and real economic growth. Such conditions, the Committee reasoned, were conducive to the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee also lauded Government programmes and activities relating to the rights of the family and the child. It showed concern, however, with the way temporary workers were treated, saying measures to guarantee their rights under the Covenant were inadequate. The Committee also said it was very concerned about the large number of illegal occupations of buildings, particularly in Buenos Aires. It recommended the Government, among other things, analyze the reasons for the lack of effectiveness of its initiatives in the areas of safety and hygiene in the work place, and make greater efforts to improve all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene and safety.
Following its examination of the second periodic report of Mexico in November 1993, the Committee, citing positive aspects, welcomed the efforts made by the State party to carry out a number of programmes and reforms designed to solve the serious economic, social or cultural problems being encountered by the country. There was concern from the Committee, however. It found disturbing the particularly large number of persons living in extreme poverty, and the Committee noted its concern with the decline in the purchasing power of the minimum wage during recent years. There was also concern about the situation of many children, namely abandoned children, street children or children in extremely difficult circumstances, who were unable to enjoy the rights outlined in the Covenant. The Committee recommended the Mexican Human Rights Commission further devote greater attention to economic, social and cultural rights, and for the Government to take urgent steps toward overcoming the grave housing crisis in the country.
Concluding Observations, Recommendations on Solomon Islands
In the concluding observations and recommendations the Committee offered from its review of the Solomon Islands in May 1999 were positive aspects, such as the laudable efforts of the newly elected Government to establish the foundations of sustainable economic growth, particularly the Government plan to review the forestry sector in practice by drawing on the expertise of external specialists, and to adopt measures aiming at the monitoring of that sector. The Committee, however, noted with concern that, despite a constitutional non-discrimination clause and the recent adoption of a national womens policy, women remained subject to patriarchy. Further, the Committee was concerned about the rise in unemployment, which had played a major role in stirring up civil strife there. It recommended that the Government of the Solomon Islands actively participate in a constructive dialogue with the Committee on how the obligations arising from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can be fulfilled in a more adequate manner.
Provisional Timetable for Consideration of Reports
When the Committee meets on Monday, 15 November, it will adopt its agenda and discuss issues related to the organization of work of the Committee, relations with United Nations organs and other treaty bodies, and follow-up to the consideration of reports under article 16 and 17 of the Covenant.
When it adopts the agenda, it will approve a timetable for its consideration of the reports of Bulgaria, Argentina, the Solomon Islands, Armenia, Cameroon and Mexico in that order.
In the afternoon, it will hear from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding substantive issues arising in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Schedule of Countries
Tuesday, 16 November
Morning Bulgaria, third periodic report (E/1994/104/Add.16) Afternoon Bulgaria (continued)
Wednesday, 17 November
Morning Bulgaria (continued) Afternoon Argentina, second periodic report (E/1990/6/Add.16)
Thursday, 18 November
Morning Argentina (continued) Afternoon Argentina (continued)
Friday, 19 November
Afternoon Solomon Islands, review implementation of Covenant (without report)
Monday, 22 November
Morning Armenia, initial report (E/1990/5/Add.36) Afternoon Armenia (continued)
Tuesday, 23 November
Morning Armenia (continued) Afternoon Cameroon, initial report (E/1990/5/Add.35)
Wednesday, 24 November
Morning Cameroon (continued) Afternoon Cameroon (continued)
Thursday, 25 November
Morning Mexico, third periodic report (E/1994/104/Add.18) Afternoon Mexico (continued)
Friday, 26 November
Morning Mexico (continued)
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The General Assembly adopted and opened the Covenant for signature, ratification and accession in 1966. It entered into force on 3 January 1976.
Article 1 of the Covenant states that the right to self-determination is universal and calls upon States to promote the realization and respect of that right. Article 3 reaffirms the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all human rights and enjoins States to make that principle a reality. Article 5 provides safeguards against the destruction or undue limitation of any human right or fundamental freedom, and against misinterpretation of any provision of the Covenant as a means of justifying infringement of a right or freedom or its restriction to a greater extent than provided in the Covenant. It also prevents States from limiting rights already enjoyed within their territories on the ground that such rights are not recognized, or recognized to a lesser extent, in the Covenant.
Articles 6 to 15 recognize the right to work; to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work; to form and join trade unions; to social security, including social insurance; to the widest possible protection and assistance for the family, mothers, children and younger persons; to an adequate standard of living; to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to an education and to take part in cultural life.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The Economic and Social Council established the Committee in 1985. Elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by State parties to the Covenant, its 18 members are human rights experts serving in their personal capacity.
The Committee is composed of the following experts: Mahmoud Samir Ahmed (Egypt), Ivan Antanovich (Belarus), Clement Atangana (Cameroon), Virginia Bonoan- Dandan (Philippines), Dumitru Ceausu (Romania), Oscar Ceville (Panama), Abdessatar Grissa (Tunisia), Paul Hunt (New Zealand), Maria de los Angeles Jiminez Butragueno (Spain), Valeri I. Kouznetsov (Russian Federation), Jaime Marchan Romero (Ecuador), Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay (Mauritius), Kenneth Osborne Rattray (Jamaica), Eibe Reidel (Germany), Walid M. Sadi (Jordan), Philippe Texier (France), Nutan Thapalia (Nepal), and Javier Wimer Zambrano (Mexico).
States Parties to Covenant
The Covenant has been ratified or acceded to by 139 States: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan and Latvia.
Also: Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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