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15 November 2000
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CESCR
24th session
15 November 2000
Morning
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning concluded its consideration of a fourth periodic report of Portugal on how that country was implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Portugal at the end of its three-week session which will conclude on 1 December.
Over the course of the morning meeting, the members of the Portuguese delegation responded to the questions raised by Committee experts. Among other things, the delegation said that abortion was illegal; that drug-trafficking had increased; that the number of accidents caused by high speed driving was also rising; and that 2 million Portuguese were poor.
In follow-up questions, Committee experts queried the delegation on Portugal's position on the environment; measures taken to entertain senior citizens; high speed driving; the problem of poverty; the policy on abortion; the situation of HIV/AIDS; a programme of national education; sexual education in schools; access to culture; protection of copy rights; and enjoyment of rights by disabled persons, among other things.
As one of the 143 States parties to the Covenant, Portugal is obligated to submit periodic reports to the Committee on the status of economic, social and cultural rights in the country. A 13-member Portuguese delegation was on hand during three meetings to present the report and to answer questions raised by Committee experts.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the fourth periodic report of Finland (document E/C.12/4/Add.1).
Discussion
In response to the questions raised by Committee experts during the previous meeting, the members of the delegation of Portugal said that a number of agencies had been set up to oversee the well-being of children and their development in and outside the family. A mechanism had also been established to coordinate the work of the various agencies dealing with children. In addition, the Government had also put in place a legislative provision in which child abuse had been made a crime. In order to reduce child prostitution, particularly that catering to tourists, the Government had taken measures to create employment for street children. The problem of prostitution and drug trafficking had been aggravated since the "Russian mafia" had settled in Portugal.
Further, the Government had established a national children's rights commission with the view to monitoring legislative, administrative or other measures in the fields covered by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the same manner, a children's support project had been initiated to detect situations involving child abuse and to make an accurate diagnosis of family dysfunctions which were responsible for child abuse.
In follow-up questions, Committee experts wanted to know about the position of Portugal on the environment; the measures taken to entertain senior citizens; high speed driving; the problem of poverty; the policy on abortion; and the situation of HIV/AIDS, among other things.
The delegation said that Portugal was among those European countries with high rates of car traffic accidents. During certain periods, such as holidays and summer time, the number of road accidents increased. The authorities had put in place a number of measures to monitor the speed limit. At present the speed limit in highways was fixed at 120 kilometres per hour. The problem of traffic accidents had been the subject of public discussions through the mass media. One of the main causes of accidents was high speed driving under the influence of alcohol. As a measure to deter high speed driving, the fines had been increased. However, the outcome was not as it was expected.
The protection of the environment was a priority of the Portuguese Government, the delegation said. Portugal had also contributed in the European Union's efforts in reducing the warming up of the planet. In addition, anti-pollution measures had been taken by limiting the gas emissions of street cars.
There had been no thorough studies on the geographical distribution of poor people in Portugal, the delegation said. Nevertheless, Portugal had two million poor people on its territory. To deal with this issue, the Government had taken measures to guarantee that persons received the minimum wage. In addition, the Government had fixed 13 October as a day of eradication of poverty during which a publication was distributed containing the views of the poor expressing their views on poverty and exclusion.
The situation of drug consumption and drug-trafficking was a problem in the Portuguese society, the delegation said. According to police statistics, the quantity of heroin and cocaine seized in 1999 had increased compared to the previous years. The number of persons involved in drug trafficking and consumption had also risen. The heroin seized generally came from the Netherlands, but in 1997, a large proportion came from Thailand; the majority of the cocaine seized originated particularly from Colombia; and hashish was supplied from Morocco. In addition, information obtained from traffickers indicated that Portugal was used as a transit point to Europe.
The Government had put in place programmes in which drug-addicts and other intoxicated persons were treated and rehabilitated, the delegation said.
The non-discrimination against elderly persons had been enshrined in the Portuguese legislation, including the Constitution, the delegation said. Great respect for the personality and knowledge of the elderly persons was paid by people both in the urban and rural areas. Projects in which elderly people were involved in contributing experience and knowledge had been realized by the various communities.
Portuguese legislation prohibited abortion and criminal charges were applicable to persons involved in such acts, the delegation said. Only in cases in which the health of the mother was jeopardized were abortions permitted. Termination of pregnancy caused by criminal acts such as rape was also allowed during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. The mother whose foetus was sick had the right to recourse for abortion. The number of illegal abortions in Portugal was estimated at 22,000 annually. In the past, a referendum to liberalize abortion had been rejected by the population.
The number of persons infected by HIV/AIDS had increased in recent years, the delegation said. Since 1996, 6,418 cases of AIDS infection had been detected, of which the majority of the cases were attributed to the use of injectable drugs. In order to reduce the risk of contamination by infected syringes, the Government had been distributing free syringes. Aside from AIDS, a campaign had been carried out to reduce sexually transmittable diseases among the youth.
A representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) queried the delegation on the extent of Government policies and legislation which reflected the basic need of education.
Committee experts also put supplementary questions on such issues as a programme of national education; sexual education in schools; access to culture; protection of copy rights; and enjoyment of rights by disabled persons, among other things.
Responding to the questions raised, the members of the delegation said that in accordance with the directives of the European Union, measures had been implemented with the view to protect intellectual properties and other artistic works.
Sexual education in schools was at its initial stage with only few schools involved in the programme, the delegation said. The aim of sexual education was focused on preventive measures against teenage pregnancy.
Primary education until the age of 15 was compulsory in Portugal, the delegation said. At present there were 350,850 students in higher education, of which 57.1 per cent were girls.
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24th session
15 November 2000
Morning
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning concluded its consideration of a fourth periodic report of Portugal on how that country was implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Portugal at the end of its three-week session which will conclude on 1 December.
Over the course of the morning meeting, the members of the Portuguese delegation responded to the questions raised by Committee experts. Among other things, the delegation said that abortion was illegal; that drug-trafficking had increased; that the number of accidents caused by high speed driving was also rising; and that 2 million Portuguese were poor.
In follow-up questions, Committee experts queried the delegation on Portugal's position on the environment; measures taken to entertain senior citizens; high speed driving; the problem of poverty; the policy on abortion; the situation of HIV/AIDS; a programme of national education; sexual education in schools; access to culture; protection of copy rights; and enjoyment of rights by disabled persons, among other things.
As one of the 143 States parties to the Covenant, Portugal is obligated to submit periodic reports to the Committee on the status of economic, social and cultural rights in the country. A 13-member Portuguese delegation was on hand during three meetings to present the report and to answer questions raised by Committee experts.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the fourth periodic report of Finland (document E/C.12/4/Add.1).
Discussion
In response to the questions raised by Committee experts during the previous meeting, the members of the delegation of Portugal said that a number of agencies had been set up to oversee the well-being of children and their development in and outside the family. A mechanism had also been established to coordinate the work of the various agencies dealing with children. In addition, the Government had also put in place a legislative provision in which child abuse had been made a crime. In order to reduce child prostitution, particularly that catering to tourists, the Government had taken measures to create employment for street children. The problem of prostitution and drug trafficking had been aggravated since the "Russian mafia" had settled in Portugal.
Further, the Government had established a national children's rights commission with the view to monitoring legislative, administrative or other measures in the fields covered by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the same manner, a children's support project had been initiated to detect situations involving child abuse and to make an accurate diagnosis of family dysfunctions which were responsible for child abuse.
In follow-up questions, Committee experts wanted to know about the position of Portugal on the environment; the measures taken to entertain senior citizens; high speed driving; the problem of poverty; the policy on abortion; and the situation of HIV/AIDS, among other things.
The delegation said that Portugal was among those European countries with high rates of car traffic accidents. During certain periods, such as holidays and summer time, the number of road accidents increased. The authorities had put in place a number of measures to monitor the speed limit. At present the speed limit in highways was fixed at 120 kilometres per hour. The problem of traffic accidents had been the subject of public discussions through the mass media. One of the main causes of accidents was high speed driving under the influence of alcohol. As a measure to deter high speed driving, the fines had been increased. However, the outcome was not as it was expected.
The protection of the environment was a priority of the Portuguese Government, the delegation said. Portugal had also contributed in the European Union's efforts in reducing the warming up of the planet. In addition, anti-pollution measures had been taken by limiting the gas emissions of street cars.
There had been no thorough studies on the geographical distribution of poor people in Portugal, the delegation said. Nevertheless, Portugal had two million poor people on its territory. To deal with this issue, the Government had taken measures to guarantee that persons received the minimum wage. In addition, the Government had fixed 13 October as a day of eradication of poverty during which a publication was distributed containing the views of the poor expressing their views on poverty and exclusion.
The situation of drug consumption and drug-trafficking was a problem in the Portuguese society, the delegation said. According to police statistics, the quantity of heroin and cocaine seized in 1999 had increased compared to the previous years. The number of persons involved in drug trafficking and consumption had also risen. The heroin seized generally came from the Netherlands, but in 1997, a large proportion came from Thailand; the majority of the cocaine seized originated particularly from Colombia; and hashish was supplied from Morocco. In addition, information obtained from traffickers indicated that Portugal was used as a transit point to Europe.
The Government had put in place programmes in which drug-addicts and other intoxicated persons were treated and rehabilitated, the delegation said.
The non-discrimination against elderly persons had been enshrined in the Portuguese legislation, including the Constitution, the delegation said. Great respect for the personality and knowledge of the elderly persons was paid by people both in the urban and rural areas. Projects in which elderly people were involved in contributing experience and knowledge had been realized by the various communities.
Portuguese legislation prohibited abortion and criminal charges were applicable to persons involved in such acts, the delegation said. Only in cases in which the health of the mother was jeopardized were abortions permitted. Termination of pregnancy caused by criminal acts such as rape was also allowed during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. The mother whose foetus was sick had the right to recourse for abortion. The number of illegal abortions in Portugal was estimated at 22,000 annually. In the past, a referendum to liberalize abortion had been rejected by the population.
The number of persons infected by HIV/AIDS had increased in recent years, the delegation said. Since 1996, 6,418 cases of AIDS infection had been detected, of which the majority of the cases were attributed to the use of injectable drugs. In order to reduce the risk of contamination by infected syringes, the Government had been distributing free syringes. Aside from AIDS, a campaign had been carried out to reduce sexually transmittable diseases among the youth.
A representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) queried the delegation on the extent of Government policies and legislation which reflected the basic need of education.
Committee experts also put supplementary questions on such issues as a programme of national education; sexual education in schools; access to culture; protection of copy rights; and enjoyment of rights by disabled persons, among other things.
Responding to the questions raised, the members of the delegation said that in accordance with the directives of the European Union, measures had been implemented with the view to protect intellectual properties and other artistic works.
Sexual education in schools was at its initial stage with only few schools involved in the programme, the delegation said. The aim of sexual education was focused on preventive measures against teenage pregnancy.
Primary education until the age of 15 was compulsory in Portugal, the delegation said. At present there were 350,850 students in higher education, of which 57.1 per cent were girls.
* *** *