COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONCLUDES DISCUSSION ON INITIAL REPORT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

CESCR
28th session
1 May 2002
Morning



The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning concluded its discussion on an initial report from the Czech Republic on how that country was implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Responding to questions raised by Committee Experts, the members of the Czech delegation said that the homeless, whose number was estimated at 100,000, were taken care of by an organization -- the Association of Asylum Centres.

The delegation also said that the most frequent cause of death in the country was circulatory system diseases; and the proportion of deaths from the second most frequent cause, malignant tumours, was 26.3 per cent in 2000. A significant decrease was registered in the 1990s in infant mortality and neonatal mortality.

Asked about the educational facilities for Roma children, the delegation said that many Roma children were not up to the demands required by normal primary schools. Roma pupils were handicapped by their socio-cultural environment, they did not have the right conditions to prepare for school, and their parents did not usually help them with their learning at home.

At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Experts continued to question the Czech delegation on remaining issues in the report. They asked, among other things, what was being done about the problem of trafficking in women; about the measures undertaken to tackle the problem of cardio-vascular disease; and the enjoyment of cultural and scientific progress by the Roma population. An Expert said that Roma children were relegated to special schools that were designed for children with mental deficiency and asocial behaviour. The special schools were not considered as either primary nor secondary schools, and thus Roma students completing such institutions came out without any degree.

A representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) complimented the Government of the Czech Republic for submitting in 1997 to UNESCO a report on follow-up against discrimination in education; and encouraged the State to take further measures within the context of the Dakar Framework of Action on Education.

The Committee will issue its concluding observations and recommendations on the report of the Czech Republic towards the end of its three-week session, which will conclude on 17 May.

As one of the 145 States parties to the International Covenant, the Czech Republic is expected to send periodic reports to the Committee on its efforts to give effect to the provisions of the treaty. A ten-member Czech delegation was on hand throughout three meetings to introduce the report and to answer questions raised by Committee Experts.

Before adjourning its morning meeting, the Committee went into private session to discuss its draft concluding observations and recommendations on a report already considered.

When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the second periodic report of Ireland (document E/1990/6/Add.29).


Discussion

At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Experts continued to question the Czech delegation on remaining issues in the report. They asked, among other things, what was being done about the problem of trafficking in women; about the measures undertaken to tackle the problem of cardio-vascular disease; and the enjoyment of cultural and scientific progress by the Roma population. An Expert said that Roma children were relegated to special schools that were designed for children with mental deficiency and asocial behaviour. The special schools were not considered as either primary nor secondary schools, and thus Roman students completing such institutions came out without any degree. What was the position of the Government on special schools for Roma children?

Responding to questions raised yesterday afternoon and this morning, the members of the Czech delegation said that church marriages had the same legal validity and consequences as did civil marriages. However, marriages contracted by institutions not authorized by the State had no legal validity. For marriage to be legal outside the church, it should be concluded before a mayor or city authority.

Concerning the question of family reunion of refugees, the delegation said that the new refugee law contained provisions on the issue; however, there could be discussions on who should be reunited according to the degree of relationship of the individual.

There had been a wide belief that there was no domestic violence in the country, the delegation said. Women considered themselves as emancipated and the phenomenon of domestic violence did not "officially" exist until some non-governmental organizations revealed its existence.

With regard to trafficking in women, the delegation said that penal provisions were applied for crimes committed in the territory of the country. However, until recently, the absence of a provision for crimes committed in other countries had allowed trafficked women from elsewhere to transit through the Czech Republic. An amendment to the penal code now permitted the authorities to punish traffickers who committed their crimes elsewhere. Further, the Government had enhanced regional cooperation and collaboration in the field of trafficking and in the rehabilitation of victims.

Constitutional provisions prohibited the entering of a dwelling without prior authorization from the lodger or by competent authorities, the delegation said. In addition, forced evictions by a landlord or officials were also prohibited by law. With regard to the general situation of housing, the Government was striving to improve the situation on the housing market through its housing policy. It was also attempting to reach a state where everyone would be able to acquire adequate housing. The Government was also providing support to improve the quality of housing through programmes aimed at granting state loans for repairs, modernization and expansion of the housing stock.

One-quarter of the houses owned by the State were transferred to municipalities, which were renting them on relatively controlled rates.

The Government felt that some city councils exhibited different behaviour towards the provision of Roma housing, the delegation said. However, measures had been taken by the Government to clarify the role of municipalities in housing provisions, in order to avoid any segregation in housing allocation.

With regard to the homeless, whose number was estimated at 100,000, the delegation said that an organization -- the Association of Asylum Centres -- was taking care of that category of people.

The most frequent cause of death was circulatory system diseases, the delegation said. The proportion of deaths from the second most frequent cause, malignant tumours, was 26.3 per cent in 2000. A significant decrease was registered in the 1990s in infant mortality and neonatal mortality. Life expectancy at birth had slightly increased in 2000, from 71.4 to 71. 65 for men and from 78.13 to 78.35 years for women. At the end of 2000, 500 persons were known to be HIV-carriers, and 80 per cent of them were men.

Asked about the educational facilities for Roma children, the delegation said that many Roma children were not up to the demands required by normal primary schools. Roma pupils were handicapped by their socio-cultural environment, they did not have the right conditions to prepare for school, and their parents did not usually help them with their learning at home. Special schools ensured that Roma got at least the education provided by those schools. Placing Roma pupils into primary schools without further assistance would not resolve the problem of their educational backwardness.

The Government had expressed its political will to solve the problem of the Roma population, the delegation said, adding that the same will should also come from the Roma community. The Government had also taken a series of measures to improve the living conditions of the community and to integrate that community into Czech society through education, employment and cultural activities.



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