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17 August 2000
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CESCR
23rd session
17 August 2000
Afternoon
Experts Examine Report in Absence of Government Delegation
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon began its consideration of the third periodic report of Mongolia in the absence of a Government delegation to take part in the deliberations.
The Government of Mongolia had recently requested that examination of the report be postponed to a future session of the Committee, but the panel's experts, who last session adopted a new rule concerning the delay of State reports, determined on Monday that Mongolia did not submit its request within the time allowed.
The experts heard from Kishore Singh of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the situation in Mongolia, and then discussed the report among themselves. Mr. Singh said the Government of Mongolia had adopted an Education Law in 1995 which guaranteed to all Mongolians the right to access to education. But while access was free and open to formal education, he said, opportunities in the non-formal education sector, like adult education, remained limited.
Many of the experts cited positive aspects in the report, such as human rights education in schools, as well as for judges, magistrates and police officers. Among other positive aspects mentioned was the inclusion in the Constitution of a prohibition against discrimination against the disabled in education and employment. But concerns were also expressed about the high unemployment rate in Mongolia, as well as reports of negative attitudes towards minority populations and a widespread violence against women.
In acceding to the Covenant, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee describing how they give effect to the provisions of the treaty. The panel evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on how to improve the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
When the Committee resumes on Friday, 18 August, at 10 a.m., it will continue to consider the third periodic report of Mongolia.
Report of Mongolia
The third periodic report of Mongolia illustrates, on an article-by-article basis, how it complies with the tenets of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which it ratified on 18 November 1974.
The report points out that Mongolia had been undergoing a radical transition to democracy and a free market economy, which has influenced many of its actions in trying to more fully recognize all the rights enshrined in the treaty. Mongolia allows for the right to fair acquisition, possession and inheritance of movable and immovable property, and enables the right to free choice of employment, favourable conditions of work and remuneration, as well as providing the right to health and medical care, and the right to education.
Discussion
KISHORE SINGH, of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said UNESCO had contributed to the education policy in Mongolia. Mongolia told UNESCO about its Education Law of 1995, which guaranteed to all Mongolians the right to access to education. Citizens had free and open access to formal education, although opportunities in non-formal education did not yet exist. UNESCO would be monitoring the implementation of the Education Law. In 1995, Mongolia took the lead in consultations with UNESCO within the United Nations Literacy Decade. The resolution included a draft Plan of Action about how to implement the provisions of the Literacy Decade.
NUTAN THAPALIA, the Committee Expert who served as rapporteur to the report, said Mongolia, one of the largest landlocked countries in the world, started moving toward a democracy and a free market economy in 1990. Many of the reforms since then had affected economic, social and cultural rights. There had been investment that had led to economic growth, but poverty and unemployment had increased. Medical care was now beyond the reach of many citizens.
Committee experts mentioned among positive aspects in the report that Mongolia had a very high rate of literacy, and life expectancy was relatively high. Its citizens also had freedom of religion. Other positive aspects were that the Constitution prevented discrimination based on age; that there were human rights training courses for judges, magistrates and police officers; that, according to the United States Department of State, there was no discrimination against disabled persons in education and employment; that Mongolia had been active in putting forward legal and legislative reform measures, including for the right to a clean environment and the right to a choice of work, as well as the right to education and the right to medical care; that there was an effort by the State party to combat poverty, which was a big problem; and that there were efforts being made to set up a National Human Rights Commission.
An expert said that the Committee should take into consideration that Mongolia was landlocked, and landlocked countries were often some of the most developing nations. Transportation was always costly. That could be why Mongolia did not send a delegation for this review. He noted that the country was 1.6 million kilometres, and had 2.5 million people -- that was 1.5 people per square kilometre -- one of the least populated countries in the world. Communication between people must be difficult. These extenuating circumstances should be taken into account. Another expert said privatization could be considered a positive note, but there had also been reports that it had made the poverty issue more extreme. On health, Mongolia appeared to have done a considerable amount of work and had made some progress.
Unemployment in Mongolia seemed to be very high, the experts said. Earlier the Committee had heard that it was between 35 per cent and 45 per cent, and that half of the population lived near or below the poverty line. The poverty had been compounded by drought. There were 35,000 street children, and they were subject to abuse. There might have been Education For All, but the drop out rate was still high.
An expert noted that it appeared the judiciary left much to be desired. There also appeared to be some negative attitudes toward minority populations, including the Chinese. Violence against women seemed to be widespread.
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23rd session
17 August 2000
Afternoon
Experts Examine Report in Absence of Government Delegation
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon began its consideration of the third periodic report of Mongolia in the absence of a Government delegation to take part in the deliberations.
The Government of Mongolia had recently requested that examination of the report be postponed to a future session of the Committee, but the panel's experts, who last session adopted a new rule concerning the delay of State reports, determined on Monday that Mongolia did not submit its request within the time allowed.
The experts heard from Kishore Singh of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the situation in Mongolia, and then discussed the report among themselves. Mr. Singh said the Government of Mongolia had adopted an Education Law in 1995 which guaranteed to all Mongolians the right to access to education. But while access was free and open to formal education, he said, opportunities in the non-formal education sector, like adult education, remained limited.
Many of the experts cited positive aspects in the report, such as human rights education in schools, as well as for judges, magistrates and police officers. Among other positive aspects mentioned was the inclusion in the Constitution of a prohibition against discrimination against the disabled in education and employment. But concerns were also expressed about the high unemployment rate in Mongolia, as well as reports of negative attitudes towards minority populations and a widespread violence against women.
In acceding to the Covenant, States agree to submit periodic reports to the Committee describing how they give effect to the provisions of the treaty. The panel evaluates the reports and makes observations and recommendations on how to improve the promotion and protection of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
When the Committee resumes on Friday, 18 August, at 10 a.m., it will continue to consider the third periodic report of Mongolia.
Report of Mongolia
The third periodic report of Mongolia illustrates, on an article-by-article basis, how it complies with the tenets of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which it ratified on 18 November 1974.
The report points out that Mongolia had been undergoing a radical transition to democracy and a free market economy, which has influenced many of its actions in trying to more fully recognize all the rights enshrined in the treaty. Mongolia allows for the right to fair acquisition, possession and inheritance of movable and immovable property, and enables the right to free choice of employment, favourable conditions of work and remuneration, as well as providing the right to health and medical care, and the right to education.
Discussion
KISHORE SINGH, of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said UNESCO had contributed to the education policy in Mongolia. Mongolia told UNESCO about its Education Law of 1995, which guaranteed to all Mongolians the right to access to education. Citizens had free and open access to formal education, although opportunities in non-formal education did not yet exist. UNESCO would be monitoring the implementation of the Education Law. In 1995, Mongolia took the lead in consultations with UNESCO within the United Nations Literacy Decade. The resolution included a draft Plan of Action about how to implement the provisions of the Literacy Decade.
NUTAN THAPALIA, the Committee Expert who served as rapporteur to the report, said Mongolia, one of the largest landlocked countries in the world, started moving toward a democracy and a free market economy in 1990. Many of the reforms since then had affected economic, social and cultural rights. There had been investment that had led to economic growth, but poverty and unemployment had increased. Medical care was now beyond the reach of many citizens.
Committee experts mentioned among positive aspects in the report that Mongolia had a very high rate of literacy, and life expectancy was relatively high. Its citizens also had freedom of religion. Other positive aspects were that the Constitution prevented discrimination based on age; that there were human rights training courses for judges, magistrates and police officers; that, according to the United States Department of State, there was no discrimination against disabled persons in education and employment; that Mongolia had been active in putting forward legal and legislative reform measures, including for the right to a clean environment and the right to a choice of work, as well as the right to education and the right to medical care; that there was an effort by the State party to combat poverty, which was a big problem; and that there were efforts being made to set up a National Human Rights Commission.
An expert said that the Committee should take into consideration that Mongolia was landlocked, and landlocked countries were often some of the most developing nations. Transportation was always costly. That could be why Mongolia did not send a delegation for this review. He noted that the country was 1.6 million kilometres, and had 2.5 million people -- that was 1.5 people per square kilometre -- one of the least populated countries in the world. Communication between people must be difficult. These extenuating circumstances should be taken into account. Another expert said privatization could be considered a positive note, but there had also been reports that it had made the poverty issue more extreme. On health, Mongolia appeared to have done a considerable amount of work and had made some progress.
Unemployment in Mongolia seemed to be very high, the experts said. Earlier the Committee had heard that it was between 35 per cent and 45 per cent, and that half of the population lived near or below the poverty line. The poverty had been compounded by drought. There were 35,000 street children, and they were subject to abuse. There might have been Education For All, but the drop out rate was still high.
An expert noted that it appeared the judiciary left much to be desired. There also appeared to be some negative attitudes toward minority populations, including the Chinese. Violence against women seemed to be widespread.
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