For participants only

E/C.12/1993/WP.11

19 February 1993

Original: ENGLISH

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND

CULTURAL RIGHTS

Eighth session,

10-28 May 1993

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC,

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of

the initial report of Iran on the rights covered by articles 10 to 15

of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

(E/1990/Add.9)

GENERAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE COVENANT IS IMPLEMENTED

1.Political situation in Iran and its effects in relation to the Covenant and, in particular, the rights provided for in articles 10 to 15.

2.Incorporation of the Covenant in internal legislation.

3.International cooperation and its impact on the rights embodied in articles 10 to 15 of the Covenant.

4.Right of self-determination in relation to articles 10 to 15 of the Covenant.

5.Measures, problems and progress in guaranteeing the exercise of the rights covered by articles 10 to 15, without discrimination of any kind as to

race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

6.Rights of foreigners in relation to articles 10 to 15 of the Covenant.

GE.93-15566 (E)

7.Measures, problems and progress in ensuring the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of the rights set forth in articles 10 to 15.

8.Limitations on the exercise of the rights enunciated in articles 10 to 15, reasons for such limitations and safeguards against abuses.

Article 10. Protection of the family, mothers and children

9.Measures to facilitate the establishment of a family and to maintain, strengthen and protect it, such as benefits, subsidies, tax exemptions and child care facilities.

10.Indicate which women's rights that have been "revived" are being referred to in article 20 (i) of the Constitution.

11.Situation of single mothers in Iran.

12.Fertility rate of Iranian women. Indicate whether a working woman on maternity leave is paid a full wage. Criterion for reducing maternity leave with pay as of the fourth child. Guarantees against dismissal for a reasonable time before and after childbirth.

13.Progress in the establishment by employers of day-care centres for the children of working mothers. Indicate whether such a measure is compulsory and the number of beneficiaries.

14.Indicate whether a shorter working day for working women means lower wages.

15.Measures of protection for women working on their own account or in family businesses, especially in agriculture, handicrafts and small industry. Situation of domestic employees.

16.Measures to help women support their children in the event of their husbands' death. Provide further information on article 21 (iv) of the Constitution.

17.Article 79 of the Labour Code prohibits the employment of any person under 15 years of age. However, secondary school students are required to work in industry one day a week (20 per cent of the school year). Indicate whether students receive wages for such work.

18.Indicate whether minors are allowed to do night work.

19.Special measures for the care and education of children separated from their mothers, children deprived of their families (especially those deprived of their families by war), children who are physically, mentally or socially disabled and juvenile delinquents.

20.Measures to prevent traffic in children and to protect them, as well as young persons, from economic exploitation, cruelty and abandonment.

21.Statistical and other data on the number of children and young persons belonging to the various age groups who are actually working, as well as sectors and types of work in which they are employed.

22.With regard to fines and penalties in respect of workers, the text of the report does not specify the scope of most of the articles referred to and, in particular, articles 52, 59, 61, 80, 81, 84, 91, 92, 149 and 151 to 155. As to amounts, explain why fines go down as the number of workers increases.

Article 11. Right to an adequate standard of living

23.Main laws, administrative regulations and collective agreements to promote the right of everyone to adequate food and any decisions taken by the competent courts.

24.Measures taken to improve methods of production, as well as the quantity of food produced, to increase yield per unit of cultivated land and to improve the methods used in animal husbandry, through the full use of technical and scientific knowledge, in particular:

(a)The promotion of agricultural research and the introduction and use of appropriate equipment, materials and technologies;

(b)Measures to disseminate knowledge of the use of such equipment, materials and technologies.

25.Measures taken to improve and disseminate knowledge of food conservation methods, in particular in order to reduce losses which occur during and after harvesting.

26.Measures taken to improve food distribution.

27.Measures taken to improve the level of food consumption and nutrition, with particular reference to the most vulnerable population groups.

28.Measures taken to reduce food adulteration and contamination and to improve food quality and safety.

29.Measures taken to disseminate knowledge of the principles of nutrition.

30.Participation, activities and international cooperation projects designed to guarantee the right of everyone to be protected against hunger, particularly through an equitable distribution of food supplies.

31.Statistical and other data on the full exercise of the right to adequate food.

32.Main laws, administrative regulations and collective agreements to promote the right of everyone to adequate clothing.

33.Measures adopted, including specific programmes, to improve methods of producing and distributing articles of clothing.

34.Main laws, administrative regulations and collective agreements to promote the right to housing and any decisions taken by the competent courts.

35.Measures to promote the construction of dwellings in order to satisfy the needs of all sectors of the population, particularly low-income families.

36.Use of scientific and technological knowledge and international cooperation to develop and improve the construction of dwellings.

37.Measures adopted or planned to solve particular housing, water supply and health problems in rural areas.

38.Measures taken to protect tenants, such as rent control and legal safeguards.

39.Specific data and other information on the exercise of the right to housing.

Article 12. Right to physical and mental health

40.Measures taken to reduce the stillbirth rate and infant mortality.

41.Measures taken to guarantee the healthy development of children.

42.Trends in and results of vaccination programmes. Coverage of immunizations and re-immunizations.

43.General programmes and specific measures to guarantee social groups, by sector and age, adequate health services.

44.Main features of existing systems of medical care and methods of financing them.

45.Statistical data on the enjoyment of the right to health. The number of hospitals and hospital beds, the percentage of the population covered by social security, the number of doctors per inhabitant, etc.

46.Situation of minority groups and refugees with regard to the enjoyment of the right to health.

Article 13. Right to education

47.Indicate whether literacy courses for minority groups are given in the language of the groups concerned. Statistical data by group and sex.

48.Actual results of the last phase of the literacy movement. Reasons for the low success rate (in courses organized for over 8 million persons, only 3 million received certificates).

49.Progress in increasing enrolment in primary schools during the periods 1988-1989 and 1991-1992. Trends in appointments of teachers and relation to the number of students.

50.Number of schools and trends in new school construction from 1987 to the present.

51.Describe programmes for the work secondary school students must perform one day a week.

52.Indicate what new courses have been offered for women and whether women are prohibited from studying certain subjects for religious or social reasons.

53.Trends in university enrolment by area of study.

54.Natural and legal persons who make use of the possibility of setting up primary schools which are separate from the Islamic schools.

55.The Committee expressed concern about the situation of certain minority groups and is awaiting replies to questions that were not satisfactorily answered at the fifth session in 1990:

(a)Violation of the rights of the Baha'i community;

(b)Exercise of economic, social and cultural rights in relation to violations of political and civil rights;

(c)Discrimination on religious grounds in the education system;

(d)Level of instruction of children belonging to the Kurdish minority;

(e)Prohibition on the admission to university of Baha'is;

(f)Freedom to teach and of political discussion for teachers and students;

(g)Acceptance of loan applications by teachers;

(h)Information on the situation of the Kurds and on disparities between the different ethnic and economic groups in the enjoyment of the right to education.

Article 14. Principle of compulsory education free of charge for all

56.Detailed plan of action and practical measures for the gradual implementation of the principle of compulsory education free of charge for all. Progress made in this regard.

Article 15. Right to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and the protection of copyright

57.Main laws, administrative regulations, collective agreements and court decisions on the right of everyone to take part in cultural life.

58.Availability of funds for the promotion of cultural development and popular participation in cultural life. Government support and private initiative.

59.Description of the institutional infrastructure set up to promote popular participation in culture.

60.General policy and specific measures to promote cultural identity.

61.Programmes to promote knowledge and enjoyment of the country's cultural heritage among minority groups.

62.The function of the mass media in cultural life.

63.Legislation protecting creative freedom and current situation with regard to the Salman Rushdie case.

64.Main laws, administrative regulations, collective agreements and court decisions relating to the promotion of the right of everyone to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications.

65.Main laws, administrative regulations, collective agreements and court decisions aimed at preserving, developing and disseminating science and culture at the constitutional level, within the national education system and through the communications media.

66.Information on the other practical measures adopted to promote the preservation, development and dissemination of science and culture.

67.Main laws, administrative regulations, collective agreements and other provisions aimed at promoting the right of everyone to the freedom required for scientific research and artistic activity.

68.Information on measures to promote the enjoyment of this right, including the creation of the necessary conditions and means for scientific research and artistic activity.

69.Measures adopted to guarantee the free exchange of information between persons engaged in educational, scientific and cultural activities.

70.Measures adopted to provide assistance to professional, scientific and cultural societies.

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