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19 November 1999
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HR/ESC/99/35
19 November 1999
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADDRESSES
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Committee Concludes Consideration of Argentinean Report
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, this morning addressed the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, stressing the importance the Committee could play in the upcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Mrs. Robinson said the Committee should make education one of the themes of the Conference, which will take place in South Africa in 2001. The event would be the first major conference of the third millennium, she said.
Mrs. Robinson said she was dismayed that the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was still at the stage of "comment", and that substantive dialogues had not yet begun.
Prior to the High Commissioner's comments, the Committee concluded its consideration of the second periodic report of Argentina on how that country was implementing the provisions of the International Covenant.
In response to some of the questions raised by members of the Committee during yesterday's meeting, the Argentinean officials said the Government had made more efforts to increase the number of houses, both in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and in the provinces.
The Committee will issue its written, final concluding observations on the second periodic report of Argentina towards the end of its three-week session, which concludes on 3 December.
As one of 142 States parties to the International Covenant, Argentina must submit periodic reports to the Committee on its performance to implement the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will start reviewing the situation of the Solomon Islands
Statement by High Commissioner for Human Rights
MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Committee should make education one of the themes for the forthcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which will take place in South Africa in 2001. The event would be the first major conference of the third millennium, she said.
Mrs. Robinson stressed the connection between education and racial tolerance, which had to be pursued by the Committee. She said the problem of racism was deep and could take a different trend if it was not dealt with on time, as in the case of racism on the Internet.
The High Commissioner said a substantive contribution to the Conference from the Committee would be essential and most welcome. The relationship between racial discrimination and the obstacles to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights merited particular focus, and the Committee's work and experience was a solid basis upon which the subject could be elaborated.
Mrs. Robinson said her Office had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which aimed to better coordinate activities between the two. In the framework of the Memorandum, a list of proposals, prepared on behalf of the Committee, was currently being considered by UNDP.
Mrs. Robinson added that after the Committee adopted concluding observations on the Solomon Islands last session, the Government of the Solomon Islands had begun to undertake steps to submit its initial report to the Committee.
Mrs. Robinson said the focus in her Office on economic, social and cultural rights in the framework of regional activities, such as the Asia-Pacific Forum, was also gradually increasing. She recalled the seventh Asia-Pacific Workshop for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which was held in New Delhi last February, which outlined possible strategies for the realization of the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights. Her Office was in the process of organizing an Asia-Pacific Workshop dedicated to economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development, to be held in Sana'a, Yemen on 5 and 6 February 2000.
Mrs. Robinson said she was dismayed that the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant was still on the stage of "comment", and discussions had not progressed to substantial issues.
Following the statement by the High Commissioner, several Committee Experts expressed concerns related to their work. Some Experts pointed to the adverse effect of the structural adjustment programmes on poverty and the enjoyment of the economic, social and cultural rights.
Committee Chairperson Virginia Bonoan-Dandan told the High Commissioner that the Committee was preparing a letter to the World Trade Organization (WTO) hoping for further cooperation between the two in the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee hoped to discuss the impact of trading rules and agreements on enjoyment of those rights.
During the discussion, Mrs. Robinson told the Committee that she was preparing to launch an annual appeal for adequate funding of human rights.
Discussion on Report of Argentina
In response to questions raised by members of the Committee during yesterday's meeting, the Argentinean officials said the Government had increased efforts to build more houses in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and in the provinces. In some areas, houses had been renovated while keeping their old architectural facades. National and provincial authorities had also taken measures to regularize house ownerships.
Current legislation in Argentina required that the national budget be approved before the beginning of the new fiscal year, the delegation said. In the budget, which would be adopted by Congress, provisions for pensions had been paid adequate attention.
In order to reduce violence against women, the means existed but justice was slow, the members of the delegation said. Starting in 1996, in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Government had in place a technical programme which included preventive measures against violence. The programme also created tools to diagnosis the sources of violence against women. In addition, training manuals had been developed to tackle the problem both theoretically and practically.
The delegation added that the Government had taken measures to combat undernourishment in children. It also said infrastructures for mental health would be expanded to solve the actual problem in that area.
New legislation was being prepared to replace the old law on immigration, the delegation said. The new law would be compatible with some of the provisions of the Covenant.
HR/ESC/99/35
19 November 1999
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADDRESSES
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Committee Concludes Consideration of Argentinean Report
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, this morning addressed the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, stressing the importance the Committee could play in the upcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Mrs. Robinson said the Committee should make education one of the themes of the Conference, which will take place in South Africa in 2001. The event would be the first major conference of the third millennium, she said.
Mrs. Robinson said she was dismayed that the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was still at the stage of "comment", and that substantive dialogues had not yet begun.
Prior to the High Commissioner's comments, the Committee concluded its consideration of the second periodic report of Argentina on how that country was implementing the provisions of the International Covenant.
In response to some of the questions raised by members of the Committee during yesterday's meeting, the Argentinean officials said the Government had made more efforts to increase the number of houses, both in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and in the provinces.
The Committee will issue its written, final concluding observations on the second periodic report of Argentina towards the end of its three-week session, which concludes on 3 December.
As one of 142 States parties to the International Covenant, Argentina must submit periodic reports to the Committee on its performance to implement the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will start reviewing the situation of the Solomon Islands
Statement by High Commissioner for Human Rights
MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Committee should make education one of the themes for the forthcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which will take place in South Africa in 2001. The event would be the first major conference of the third millennium, she said.
Mrs. Robinson stressed the connection between education and racial tolerance, which had to be pursued by the Committee. She said the problem of racism was deep and could take a different trend if it was not dealt with on time, as in the case of racism on the Internet.
The High Commissioner said a substantive contribution to the Conference from the Committee would be essential and most welcome. The relationship between racial discrimination and the obstacles to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights merited particular focus, and the Committee's work and experience was a solid basis upon which the subject could be elaborated.
Mrs. Robinson said her Office had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which aimed to better coordinate activities between the two. In the framework of the Memorandum, a list of proposals, prepared on behalf of the Committee, was currently being considered by UNDP.
Mrs. Robinson added that after the Committee adopted concluding observations on the Solomon Islands last session, the Government of the Solomon Islands had begun to undertake steps to submit its initial report to the Committee.
Mrs. Robinson said the focus in her Office on economic, social and cultural rights in the framework of regional activities, such as the Asia-Pacific Forum, was also gradually increasing. She recalled the seventh Asia-Pacific Workshop for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, which was held in New Delhi last February, which outlined possible strategies for the realization of the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights. Her Office was in the process of organizing an Asia-Pacific Workshop dedicated to economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development, to be held in Sana'a, Yemen on 5 and 6 February 2000.
Mrs. Robinson said she was dismayed that the draft optional protocol to the International Covenant was still on the stage of "comment", and discussions had not progressed to substantial issues.
Following the statement by the High Commissioner, several Committee Experts expressed concerns related to their work. Some Experts pointed to the adverse effect of the structural adjustment programmes on poverty and the enjoyment of the economic, social and cultural rights.
Committee Chairperson Virginia Bonoan-Dandan told the High Commissioner that the Committee was preparing a letter to the World Trade Organization (WTO) hoping for further cooperation between the two in the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee hoped to discuss the impact of trading rules and agreements on enjoyment of those rights.
During the discussion, Mrs. Robinson told the Committee that she was preparing to launch an annual appeal for adequate funding of human rights.
Discussion on Report of Argentina
In response to questions raised by members of the Committee during yesterday's meeting, the Argentinean officials said the Government had increased efforts to build more houses in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and in the provinces. In some areas, houses had been renovated while keeping their old architectural facades. National and provincial authorities had also taken measures to regularize house ownerships.
Current legislation in Argentina required that the national budget be approved before the beginning of the new fiscal year, the delegation said. In the budget, which would be adopted by Congress, provisions for pensions had been paid adequate attention.
In order to reduce violence against women, the means existed but justice was slow, the members of the delegation said. Starting in 1996, in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Government had in place a technical programme which included preventive measures against violence. The programme also created tools to diagnosis the sources of violence against women. In addition, training manuals had been developed to tackle the problem both theoretically and practically.
The delegation added that the Government had taken measures to combat undernourishment in children. It also said infrastructures for mental health would be expanded to solve the actual problem in that area.
New legislation was being prepared to replace the old law on immigration, the delegation said. The new law would be compatible with some of the provisions of the Covenant.