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15 November 1999
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AFTERNOON
HR/ESC/99/28
15 November 1999
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
HEARS STATEMENTS FROM NGOS
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon continued hearing statements made by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), expressing views on country reports to be considered during the Committee’s three-week session.
Some Committee Experts suggested that a concerted campaign be carried out by the United Nations to combat age-old cultural practices which hamper the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights of citizens in all countries.
The sufferings of women in all countries had also been highlighted in the statements of many representatives of NGOs. Some charged that women's rights had still been violated through a number of acts, including, polygamy, genital mutilation, denial of land ownership titles and refusal of their equal participation in public affairs, among other things.
Several NGOs who took the floor this afternoon attempted to present alternative reports to State reports, which will be considered by the Committee beginning tomorrow. Many of them indicated the reports failed to address specific issues aimed at promoting the economic, social and cultural rights. Other NGOs suggested that the Committee should remind States of their obligations to promote those rights.
One NGO representative said the structural programmes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank had a negative impact on the human rights of people in many countries.
Before adjourning its afternoon meeting, the Committee also heard a statement by a representative of the American Association for Advancement of Science on the "Thesaurus on Economic Social and Cultural Rights", which organized and classified rights, components of rights, thematic terminology and corresponding violations pertaining to articles 1-15 of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 16 November, it will take up the third periodic report of Bulgaria (E/1994/104/Add.16).
Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations on Country Reports
On Report of Argentina
The representative of Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, Argentine, said that regression in the effect of economic, social and cultural rights had been observed in the country with major violations of those rights. The report also lacked information on significant issues such as infant mortality, which had an increased rate in recent years.
The representative also said that labour had been less protected with employment contracts not respecting the labour law. At least 6 per cent of the total working population was under a labour contract which was not registered officially in accordance to the labour law, thus leaving employees vulnerable to illegal dismissal and without a guarantee for fixed-term employment. In addition, there was a devaluation of the social security system because of the lack of resources to implement the legislative measures.
On Report of Armenia
KASIA POLANSKA, Research Director of International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW), said the Armenian Government was slow to implement measures to enhance economic, social and cultural rights of its population. Particular concern was of the situation of women, whose rights were not fully addressed by Governmental measures.
Ms. Polanska also said that the Government had not yet taken measures which would have improved the situation of women: abortion was high; women who committed petty crimes were incarcerated with dangerous inmates; and living conditions of women in rural areas were even worse.
On Report of Cameroon
MARSHA FREEMAN, Director of International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW), said that Cameroonian women were treated as if they were not human beings as the country's tradition gave them a small role in society. The rate of illiteracy among women was very high, and many girls stayed in the house to help their family. The Government did not address the problems arising from the unequal treatment of women. Women's genital mutilation had been widely seen as a logical consequence of tradition to which little had been done to combat it. Cameroonian tradition had also allowed polygamy, a practice detrimental to the rights of women.
E. GRAHAM, Food First Information and Action Network (FIAN), said the Government of Cameroon had failed in its report to address the right of adequate food. The report also failed to give an accurate indication of the current situation, the measures implemented by the Government and the progress it had made in guaranteeing the right to adequate food for all its population. She said that her organization had submitted a report on Cameroon aimed at indicating how the Government was violating the right to adequate food by not adequately implementing its obligations to respect, to protect and to fulfill the right to adequate food for everyone.
On Report of Mexico
JAVIER DE LA ROSA, Convergencia de Organismos Civiles por la Democracia, said in the Chiapas region of Mexico, about 20,000 displaced persons, among whom the majority were women and children, had still no future to return to their places of origin because of the paramilitary presence in the area.
ARELI SANDOVAL, Equipo Pueblo, Labour Rights, said national and international responsibilities of adverse effects of the environment should be established. The Committee should draw the attention of Mexico by adopting a specific recommendation to that issue. In addition, she said that the systematic violation of the trade union in Mexico was disturbing. Women's conditions in working places were not fair and satisfactory because of the poor salary payments and their unequal treatment.
LUZ LOZOYA, Frente por el Drecho a Alimentarse, Secretary of FIAN-Mexico, said the Mexican population was not even able to adequately get its basic food basket, particularly people living in the rural areas. Since the rural areas were subjected to modernization, the agricultural sector had been affected, prompting a reduction in farm products. The sale of community lands had also resulted in agricultural productions failure. The country's maize staple was actually imported from outside. In addition, it was estimated that 50 per cent of Mexican children had been affected by malnutrition.
The Mexican report was supported by slide pictures featuring the living conditions of indigenous people of Mexico.
The representative of International Federation Terre des Hommes, said the economic, social and cultural rights of people everywhere had continued to be violated. There was a real progression in the increase of poverty and exclusion, in violation of the Copenhagen Social Summit Declaration and Article 2 of the International Covenant, which obligated States to ensure, with the maximum resources available, the full exercise of economic, social and cultural rights.
The representative said Mexico had now plummeted in an economic crisis in which 85 per cent of Mexicans lived below a poverty line, while about 50 per cent of the population lived in absolute misery. Mexico was a country where 15 persons had a private fortune that exceeded $1 billion, with more than 75 million of persons whose daily income was not even $2, and 17 million persons with less than $1.
VICTOR SOLE, NGO Coordination for Human Dignity, said the structural programmes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank had a negative impact on the human rights of people in many countries. This position had also been affirmed by many experts who made studies on the issue and who also concluded that the structural adjustment programmes had negative consequences on human rights in general. Although the two financial institutions said their priority was to combat against poverty, they refused to clearly express the necessity to promote human rights for all.
On Solomon Islands
CASPER FA'ASALA, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, recalled the Committee had already expressed its concern over the absence of free, compulsory primary education in the Solomon Islands. That situation had only been made worse as a result of ethnic conflict; families which had been displaced as a result of that conflict had lost their livelihood and found themselves without the means to pay school fees. As a result, an increasing number of children were being denied their right to education.
Mr. Fa'asala said the conflict in the Solomons had also dramatically affected the housing situation for many inhabitants, particularly Malaitans who were recently forced off Guadalcanal and back to their native villages, and had faced a number of problems upon their return. Many had been forced to live in tents to accommodate the massive influx of people. As a result of that influx, many villages were now facing serious shortages of proper food and water, causing a major health problem.
General Statements
MICHAEL WINDFUHR, FIAN International, "New International Instruments for the Right of Adequate Food", stressed the Committee should hold discussion with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to find a common denomination in their in the promotion of economic rights. He, however, said that the WTO was mainly concerned on what States should do or not do. In addition, he said that the Committee should send additional reminders to States parties so that they respond to their comments on the draft optional protocol to the Covenant.
BETH JEWELL, Redfern Legal Centre, Australia (Olympic Games Related Forced Eviction), expressed concern that currently thousands of individuals and families faced arbitrary eviction as a result of the impact of the Olympics in Sydney. Rent increases had caused by an artificially inflated "Olympics" real estate market and a depletion of affordable housing stock and population increase. The most vulnerable members of the community were affected the most, and the standard of housing for indigenous people across Australia was a national disgrace and a gross violation of human rights. The urban Aborigines of Sydney were experiencing a new wave of evictions due to an Olympics-induced "city beautification" programme.
HR/ESC/99/28
15 November 1999
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
HEARS STATEMENTS FROM NGOS
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon continued hearing statements made by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), expressing views on country reports to be considered during the Committee’s three-week session.
Some Committee Experts suggested that a concerted campaign be carried out by the United Nations to combat age-old cultural practices which hamper the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights of citizens in all countries.
The sufferings of women in all countries had also been highlighted in the statements of many representatives of NGOs. Some charged that women's rights had still been violated through a number of acts, including, polygamy, genital mutilation, denial of land ownership titles and refusal of their equal participation in public affairs, among other things.
Several NGOs who took the floor this afternoon attempted to present alternative reports to State reports, which will be considered by the Committee beginning tomorrow. Many of them indicated the reports failed to address specific issues aimed at promoting the economic, social and cultural rights. Other NGOs suggested that the Committee should remind States of their obligations to promote those rights.
One NGO representative said the structural programmes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank had a negative impact on the human rights of people in many countries.
Before adjourning its afternoon meeting, the Committee also heard a statement by a representative of the American Association for Advancement of Science on the "Thesaurus on Economic Social and Cultural Rights", which organized and classified rights, components of rights, thematic terminology and corresponding violations pertaining to articles 1-15 of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 16 November, it will take up the third periodic report of Bulgaria (E/1994/104/Add.16).
Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations on Country Reports
On Report of Argentina
The representative of Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, Argentine, said that regression in the effect of economic, social and cultural rights had been observed in the country with major violations of those rights. The report also lacked information on significant issues such as infant mortality, which had an increased rate in recent years.
The representative also said that labour had been less protected with employment contracts not respecting the labour law. At least 6 per cent of the total working population was under a labour contract which was not registered officially in accordance to the labour law, thus leaving employees vulnerable to illegal dismissal and without a guarantee for fixed-term employment. In addition, there was a devaluation of the social security system because of the lack of resources to implement the legislative measures.
On Report of Armenia
KASIA POLANSKA, Research Director of International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW), said the Armenian Government was slow to implement measures to enhance economic, social and cultural rights of its population. Particular concern was of the situation of women, whose rights were not fully addressed by Governmental measures.
Ms. Polanska also said that the Government had not yet taken measures which would have improved the situation of women: abortion was high; women who committed petty crimes were incarcerated with dangerous inmates; and living conditions of women in rural areas were even worse.
On Report of Cameroon
MARSHA FREEMAN, Director of International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW), said that Cameroonian women were treated as if they were not human beings as the country's tradition gave them a small role in society. The rate of illiteracy among women was very high, and many girls stayed in the house to help their family. The Government did not address the problems arising from the unequal treatment of women. Women's genital mutilation had been widely seen as a logical consequence of tradition to which little had been done to combat it. Cameroonian tradition had also allowed polygamy, a practice detrimental to the rights of women.
E. GRAHAM, Food First Information and Action Network (FIAN), said the Government of Cameroon had failed in its report to address the right of adequate food. The report also failed to give an accurate indication of the current situation, the measures implemented by the Government and the progress it had made in guaranteeing the right to adequate food for all its population. She said that her organization had submitted a report on Cameroon aimed at indicating how the Government was violating the right to adequate food by not adequately implementing its obligations to respect, to protect and to fulfill the right to adequate food for everyone.
On Report of Mexico
JAVIER DE LA ROSA, Convergencia de Organismos Civiles por la Democracia, said in the Chiapas region of Mexico, about 20,000 displaced persons, among whom the majority were women and children, had still no future to return to their places of origin because of the paramilitary presence in the area.
ARELI SANDOVAL, Equipo Pueblo, Labour Rights, said national and international responsibilities of adverse effects of the environment should be established. The Committee should draw the attention of Mexico by adopting a specific recommendation to that issue. In addition, she said that the systematic violation of the trade union in Mexico was disturbing. Women's conditions in working places were not fair and satisfactory because of the poor salary payments and their unequal treatment.
LUZ LOZOYA, Frente por el Drecho a Alimentarse, Secretary of FIAN-Mexico, said the Mexican population was not even able to adequately get its basic food basket, particularly people living in the rural areas. Since the rural areas were subjected to modernization, the agricultural sector had been affected, prompting a reduction in farm products. The sale of community lands had also resulted in agricultural productions failure. The country's maize staple was actually imported from outside. In addition, it was estimated that 50 per cent of Mexican children had been affected by malnutrition.
The Mexican report was supported by slide pictures featuring the living conditions of indigenous people of Mexico.
The representative of International Federation Terre des Hommes, said the economic, social and cultural rights of people everywhere had continued to be violated. There was a real progression in the increase of poverty and exclusion, in violation of the Copenhagen Social Summit Declaration and Article 2 of the International Covenant, which obligated States to ensure, with the maximum resources available, the full exercise of economic, social and cultural rights.
The representative said Mexico had now plummeted in an economic crisis in which 85 per cent of Mexicans lived below a poverty line, while about 50 per cent of the population lived in absolute misery. Mexico was a country where 15 persons had a private fortune that exceeded $1 billion, with more than 75 million of persons whose daily income was not even $2, and 17 million persons with less than $1.
VICTOR SOLE, NGO Coordination for Human Dignity, said the structural programmes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank had a negative impact on the human rights of people in many countries. This position had also been affirmed by many experts who made studies on the issue and who also concluded that the structural adjustment programmes had negative consequences on human rights in general. Although the two financial institutions said their priority was to combat against poverty, they refused to clearly express the necessity to promote human rights for all.
On Solomon Islands
CASPER FA'ASALA, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, recalled the Committee had already expressed its concern over the absence of free, compulsory primary education in the Solomon Islands. That situation had only been made worse as a result of ethnic conflict; families which had been displaced as a result of that conflict had lost their livelihood and found themselves without the means to pay school fees. As a result, an increasing number of children were being denied their right to education.
Mr. Fa'asala said the conflict in the Solomons had also dramatically affected the housing situation for many inhabitants, particularly Malaitans who were recently forced off Guadalcanal and back to their native villages, and had faced a number of problems upon their return. Many had been forced to live in tents to accommodate the massive influx of people. As a result of that influx, many villages were now facing serious shortages of proper food and water, causing a major health problem.
General Statements
MICHAEL WINDFUHR, FIAN International, "New International Instruments for the Right of Adequate Food", stressed the Committee should hold discussion with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to find a common denomination in their in the promotion of economic rights. He, however, said that the WTO was mainly concerned on what States should do or not do. In addition, he said that the Committee should send additional reminders to States parties so that they respond to their comments on the draft optional protocol to the Covenant.
BETH JEWELL, Redfern Legal Centre, Australia (Olympic Games Related Forced Eviction), expressed concern that currently thousands of individuals and families faced arbitrary eviction as a result of the impact of the Olympics in Sydney. Rent increases had caused by an artificially inflated "Olympics" real estate market and a depletion of affordable housing stock and population increase. The most vulnerable members of the community were affected the most, and the standard of housing for indigenous people across Australia was a national disgrace and a gross violation of human rights. The urban Aborigines of Sydney were experiencing a new wave of evictions due to an Olympics-induced "city beautification" programme.