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03 May 2000
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CESCR
22nd Session
3 May 2000
Afternoon
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon completed its consideration of the initial report of Egypt on how that country was complying with the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee will issue its formal written observations and recommendations on the report towards the end of its three-week session, which concludes on 12 May.
The delegation, which was headed by Sana Khalil, Egypt's Deputy Minister of Justice, told the Committee experts that the country had a serious housing problem, and was undertaking several efforts to combat it. Investors, the delegation said, did not want to get into the real estate market, with respect to construction, so it was up to the State to increase the number of housing units. The Government had devoted 56 billion Egyptian pounds to carry out its investment in housing programme over a five-year period. Housing units were made available at low costs, and there was a project for housing young people as well.
In the course of the discussion of the report, Committee members raised other questions on issues pertaining to, among other issues, female genital mutilation, AIDS prevention efforts, administrative evictions, smoking policies and treatment for the mentally ill.
As one of the 143 States parties to the International Covenant, Egypt must submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it was implementing the provisions of the treaty. The country's initial report was presented yesterday afternoon.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, 4 May, it will begin consideration of the second periodic report of Jordan.
Discussion
Asked about female genital mutilation, the delegation said the practice had been prohibited and was considered a crime in Egypt. The practice had practically disappeared from urban societies, and it was very uncommon in the rural areas as well. Traditions do not disappear overnight, but the Government was counting that with a ban, it would be practised less and less. Campaigns against it were continuing.
The delegation said the minimum age of employment for children was 14. By that age, a child would have completed the basic compulsory education.
Addressing the housing problem in Egypt, the delegation said there were different strategies that had been adopted. For the use of agricultural land, people leased the land for a given period. The cost of such leasing was very small. Some owners had just held on to the land, and did not make use of it as a farm. A person with a dwelling on agricultural land that was leased received another dwelling elsewhere. This was a law that had good effects and was applied without any problems.
The delegation continued that investors did not want to get into the real estate market, with respect to construction, so it was up to the State to increase the number of housing units. The State had devoted 56 billion Egyptian pounds to carry out its investment in housing programme over a five-year period. Housing units were made available at low costs, and there was a project for housing young people as well.
Regarding administrative evictions, it was sometimes carried out in the public interest when roads and other infrastructure were being built. These people only left once agreements had been struck, including financial compensation and offers of a lower rental cost. Occasionally, people were evicted because buildings were run-down and dangerous.
Many programmes had been adopted to combat poverty, the delegation said. The Government had opened new work and training facilities. Professional education and training centres had been opened. A lot of people took advantage of these projects under the Social Fund. Egyptians were encouraged to go to other areas outside the main cities -- the Government had created 11 new regions and cities. Places had been improved, and citizens, especially young people, were encouraged to go there. Costs there were lower, and it helped lower the number of people in the over-populated cities. These plans had largely worked. The housing areas in these new cities naturally provided all basic services. That had added 32,000 housing units in the country.
The scope of the housing problem, the delegation said, was a complex issue. It was estimated that to solve the problem, between one and two million new units would be needed. There were estimates that there were between one and two million units empty now. The law required owners to pay for the upkeep of the building, but rents were so low -- a five-room apartment in a middle-class neighborhood in Cairo would cost about $ 7 a month -- that it was cheaper for the owners to keep their units empty and not pay for the upkeep. One of the basic avenues for the Government to help with the problem was to subsidize the infrastructure. That could be more effective in the long-term than building its own units.
Addressing a question about people living in cemeteries, the delegation said cemeteries played an important role in Egyptian society. When cemeteries were built, it was customary to erect a small house -- one or two rooms -- with a bathroom, so people could visit their loved ones often. With the housing problem, people began to live in them all the time. But they were buildings, it was not like people were sleeping with the tombstones.
Speaking about overpopulation, abortion was illegal, the delegation said.
Questioned about why the Government had not banned leaded fuel, the delegation said efforts were increasing to help clean the air. As far as petrol was concerned, the Government had undertaken a plan to increase lead-free fuel. A plan would be implemented within a year that would require public transportation vehicles to use lead-free fuel.
As far as smoking was concerned, the delegation said public health agencies were making strides in that field to change behaviour. The Government was encountering a great deal of difficulty in banning smoking in public places, but the media and other campaigns were educating the public about the dangers of smoking. If someone today smoked in a public place, they would be the object of some scorn by others around them.
The spread of AIDS was limited in Egypt, less than 1,000 cases in total, because of the importance of the family in Egyptian tradition, the delegation said. Those suffering from the disease were treated humanely. Tests were given to those arriving in the country for work or residence. Tests were also made on all personnel who may have been exposed to the disease. Awareness campaigns had been waged to inform the public about the dangers of the disease and the way in which it spread.
Addressing the issue of care for the mentally ill, the delegation said a 1958 law provided for the custody and care of a mentally ill person. As far as hospitals caring for the mentally ill, they fell under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Health, and they were inspected often.
The health network in Egypt was based on the health units that were located in every village. These units provided primary care for all citizens. There were regional hospitals in regional centres, and there were major hospitals in the major cities.
Questioned about vaccination and preventive medicine, the delegation said the percentages of compulsory immunization for childhood diseases were reflected in the report. Neonatal tetanus infections had also been reduced thanks to immunization of pregnant women.
Answering a question regarding censorship, the delegation said Egypt had a free press and the right to free expression. In the last year there were three ministers who had filed defamation suits against journalists. In general publications, there were no restrictions. When it came to artistic works, there was prohibition of pornography. When it came to religion and religious writings, there was no prior approval, but if there was a complaint filed that something was a defamation of religion, it could be sent into the courts.
Asked whether there was a Government department to protect minorities, the delegation said there was no problem with minorities. There were very few Jews in Egypt, about 500, and there were no problems against them. There was a synagogue in the middle of the city, and there were never any problems or tension.
Corporal punishment was not allowed in school, the delegation said.
Education was still free, the delegation said, although there may be nominal fees. Education had been free even before the Government acceded to the Covenant. In fact, free education was one of the pillars of the 1952 revolution. When compulsory education was established, the minimum time was six years. It later went up to eight years, and last year expanded to nine years. It was divided into six years of primary education and three years of secondary education.
* *** *
22nd Session
3 May 2000
Afternoon
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon completed its consideration of the initial report of Egypt on how that country was complying with the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee will issue its formal written observations and recommendations on the report towards the end of its three-week session, which concludes on 12 May.
The delegation, which was headed by Sana Khalil, Egypt's Deputy Minister of Justice, told the Committee experts that the country had a serious housing problem, and was undertaking several efforts to combat it. Investors, the delegation said, did not want to get into the real estate market, with respect to construction, so it was up to the State to increase the number of housing units. The Government had devoted 56 billion Egyptian pounds to carry out its investment in housing programme over a five-year period. Housing units were made available at low costs, and there was a project for housing young people as well.
In the course of the discussion of the report, Committee members raised other questions on issues pertaining to, among other issues, female genital mutilation, AIDS prevention efforts, administrative evictions, smoking policies and treatment for the mentally ill.
As one of the 143 States parties to the International Covenant, Egypt must submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it was implementing the provisions of the treaty. The country's initial report was presented yesterday afternoon.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, 4 May, it will begin consideration of the second periodic report of Jordan.
Discussion
Asked about female genital mutilation, the delegation said the practice had been prohibited and was considered a crime in Egypt. The practice had practically disappeared from urban societies, and it was very uncommon in the rural areas as well. Traditions do not disappear overnight, but the Government was counting that with a ban, it would be practised less and less. Campaigns against it were continuing.
The delegation said the minimum age of employment for children was 14. By that age, a child would have completed the basic compulsory education.
Addressing the housing problem in Egypt, the delegation said there were different strategies that had been adopted. For the use of agricultural land, people leased the land for a given period. The cost of such leasing was very small. Some owners had just held on to the land, and did not make use of it as a farm. A person with a dwelling on agricultural land that was leased received another dwelling elsewhere. This was a law that had good effects and was applied without any problems.
The delegation continued that investors did not want to get into the real estate market, with respect to construction, so it was up to the State to increase the number of housing units. The State had devoted 56 billion Egyptian pounds to carry out its investment in housing programme over a five-year period. Housing units were made available at low costs, and there was a project for housing young people as well.
Regarding administrative evictions, it was sometimes carried out in the public interest when roads and other infrastructure were being built. These people only left once agreements had been struck, including financial compensation and offers of a lower rental cost. Occasionally, people were evicted because buildings were run-down and dangerous.
Many programmes had been adopted to combat poverty, the delegation said. The Government had opened new work and training facilities. Professional education and training centres had been opened. A lot of people took advantage of these projects under the Social Fund. Egyptians were encouraged to go to other areas outside the main cities -- the Government had created 11 new regions and cities. Places had been improved, and citizens, especially young people, were encouraged to go there. Costs there were lower, and it helped lower the number of people in the over-populated cities. These plans had largely worked. The housing areas in these new cities naturally provided all basic services. That had added 32,000 housing units in the country.
The scope of the housing problem, the delegation said, was a complex issue. It was estimated that to solve the problem, between one and two million new units would be needed. There were estimates that there were between one and two million units empty now. The law required owners to pay for the upkeep of the building, but rents were so low -- a five-room apartment in a middle-class neighborhood in Cairo would cost about $ 7 a month -- that it was cheaper for the owners to keep their units empty and not pay for the upkeep. One of the basic avenues for the Government to help with the problem was to subsidize the infrastructure. That could be more effective in the long-term than building its own units.
Addressing a question about people living in cemeteries, the delegation said cemeteries played an important role in Egyptian society. When cemeteries were built, it was customary to erect a small house -- one or two rooms -- with a bathroom, so people could visit their loved ones often. With the housing problem, people began to live in them all the time. But they were buildings, it was not like people were sleeping with the tombstones.
Speaking about overpopulation, abortion was illegal, the delegation said.
Questioned about why the Government had not banned leaded fuel, the delegation said efforts were increasing to help clean the air. As far as petrol was concerned, the Government had undertaken a plan to increase lead-free fuel. A plan would be implemented within a year that would require public transportation vehicles to use lead-free fuel.
As far as smoking was concerned, the delegation said public health agencies were making strides in that field to change behaviour. The Government was encountering a great deal of difficulty in banning smoking in public places, but the media and other campaigns were educating the public about the dangers of smoking. If someone today smoked in a public place, they would be the object of some scorn by others around them.
The spread of AIDS was limited in Egypt, less than 1,000 cases in total, because of the importance of the family in Egyptian tradition, the delegation said. Those suffering from the disease were treated humanely. Tests were given to those arriving in the country for work or residence. Tests were also made on all personnel who may have been exposed to the disease. Awareness campaigns had been waged to inform the public about the dangers of the disease and the way in which it spread.
Addressing the issue of care for the mentally ill, the delegation said a 1958 law provided for the custody and care of a mentally ill person. As far as hospitals caring for the mentally ill, they fell under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Health, and they were inspected often.
The health network in Egypt was based on the health units that were located in every village. These units provided primary care for all citizens. There were regional hospitals in regional centres, and there were major hospitals in the major cities.
Questioned about vaccination and preventive medicine, the delegation said the percentages of compulsory immunization for childhood diseases were reflected in the report. Neonatal tetanus infections had also been reduced thanks to immunization of pregnant women.
Answering a question regarding censorship, the delegation said Egypt had a free press and the right to free expression. In the last year there were three ministers who had filed defamation suits against journalists. In general publications, there were no restrictions. When it came to artistic works, there was prohibition of pornography. When it came to religion and religious writings, there was no prior approval, but if there was a complaint filed that something was a defamation of religion, it could be sent into the courts.
Asked whether there was a Government department to protect minorities, the delegation said there was no problem with minorities. There were very few Jews in Egypt, about 500, and there were no problems against them. There was a synagogue in the middle of the city, and there were never any problems or tension.
Corporal punishment was not allowed in school, the delegation said.
Education was still free, the delegation said, although there may be nominal fees. Education had been free even before the Government acceded to the Covenant. In fact, free education was one of the pillars of the 1952 revolution. When compulsory education was established, the minimum time was six years. It later went up to eight years, and last year expanded to nine years. It was divided into six years of primary education and three years of secondary education.
* *** *