COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Pre-sessional Working Group
15-19 May 2000
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 second periodic report of Morocco concerning the rights covered
by articles 1-15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (E/1990/6/Add.20)
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
General legal framework within which human rights are protected
1. Please provide a summary of the steps undertaken by the State party in response to the Committee's suggestions and recommendations contained in its concluding observations on the initial report (E/C.12/1994/5 of 30 May 1994).
2. Please explain in more detail the essence of paragraphs 38 to 41, in particular, the work of the "associations" to be revitalized and the "substantial progress towards increased protection of economic, social and cultural rights" referred to in paragraph 40.
II. ISSUES RELATING TO THE GENERAL PROVISIONS
OF THE COVENANT (ARTS. 1-5)
Article 1: The right of self-determination
3. Please provide more detailed information on the economic and social situation of the population living in Western Sahara and on the implementation of the right to self-determination, referred to in paragraphs 18-22 of the report.
Article 2: Non-discrimination
4. Paragraph 30 of the report speaks of the adoption of "measures to tackle" the economic and social problems of the country, particularly in the "poorest areas and provinces and the most vulnerable parts of society". Please explain the main features of these measures and indicate the progress made so far in their implementation.
5. Please explain the policy of the State party with regard to the treatment of stateless persons and refugees in relation to their enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.
6. Please provide information on persons with mental illnesses, in particular with regard to their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights as enshrined in the Covenant.
Article 3: Equality between men and women
7. Please provide information on the results of the work of the "commission" referred to in paragraph 44 of the report.
8. The rural population of Morocco, particularly the women, continue to have markedly lower access to stable employment, adequate education, health care and housing. Please indicate the measures envisaged and actually being implemented to eliminate this anomaly progressively.
III. ISSUES RELATING TO SPECIFIC RIGHTS RECOGNIZED
IN THE COVENANT (ARTS. 6-15)
Article 6: The right to work
9. Please provide information on the results of the work of the National Council for Youth and the Future (CNJA) referred to in paragraphs 50-53 of the report.
10. The data contained in paragraph 54 of the report refer to urban unemployment. In this regard, please explain:
(a) How do they compare with rural data?
(b) Do they take into consideration information on under- or disguised unemployment?
11. Please provide more detailed information on the nature and work of the "Division of Cooperation" referred to in paragraph 56 of the report.
12. Please provide information on the results of the measures enumerated in paragraphs 61-84 of the report.
Article 7: The right to just and favourable conditions of work
13. Please provide more detailed information on the minimum wage, in particular how it is determined, its coverage, notably in rural and urban areas, and its evolution relative to the rise in the cost of living during the periods referred to in the tables attached to paragraph 104 of the report.
14. Paragraph 105 of the report speaks of "safe and healthy working conditions", but contains no data on accidents at the workplace, in particular fatal accidents. Please provide relevant data on such accidents for the last five years, if possible. Moreover, further information is requested on the results of the "field study" undertaken by the Department of Employment in 1995.
Article 8: Trade union rights
15. Please provide information on the results of the work undertaken by the "ad hoc committee" referred to in paragraph 110 of the report and the nature of the "outstanding issues" mentioned therein.
Article 9: The right to social security
16. Please provide more detailed information on the various social security schemes mentioned in the report. Please include statistical data on the amounts of benefits paid to different types of employees across the various sectors over the last five years.
17. Please provide more information on the "optional funds" referred to in paragraphs 120 and 121 of the report.
Article 10: Protection of the family, mothers and children
18. Please give more detailed information on how the family is defined in Moroccan legislation (paragraph 123 of the report).
19. With regard to the protection and development of children (paragraphs 124 and 125) no mention is made of disadvantaged children: orphans, children of divorced parents, abandoned children and those born out of wedlock. Please provide detailed information on the actual situation of these disadvantaged children and on how their rights to health, education, adequate food and housing are protected.
20. Please provide detailed data on child mortality in rural and urban areas and on the respective maternal mortality rates.
21. Please provide detailed information on violence against women and children, particularly in the home.
Article 11: The right to an adequate standard of living
22. Please provide more detailed information on the availability of food in rural and urban areas, the nutritional situation of lower income groups, and the extent of malnutrition among disadvantaged groups.
23. Please provide information on the measures being taken to eradicate parasitic diseases, particularly those transmitted by unsafe drinking water.
24. Please provide information, supported by statistical data, on the housing shortfalls mentioned in paragraph 135 of the report and on what is being done to reduce these shortfalls.
25. Please provide information on the measures being adopted to achieve the housing objectives listed in paragraph 136.
26. Please provide information on the incidence of homelessness and forced evictions.
Article 12: The right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
27. Please explain the essential causes of the relatively high proportion (about 10 per cent) of Moroccan children under the age of five years who are treated annually for diarrhoeal diseases (paragraph 147 of the report).
28. Please provide additional information on the measures being applied to eradicate the production and consumption of marijuana.
29. Please provide additional information on sexually transmitted diseases, notably HIV/AIDS, and on how the right to health of those suffering from such diseases is protected.
Articles 13 and 14: The right to education
30. Please provide information, supported by statistical data disaggregated by age, sex and area of residence, on the proportion of children of school age who are not attending schools.
31. Please provide information on the measures being applied to eliminate the prevalent discrimination against girls in education, particularly in rural areas.
32. Please provide information on the results of the basic education component of the "programme of social priorities" referred to in paragraph 168 of the report.
33. Please provide statistical data on illiteracy rates, disaggregated by sex and age. Please indicate the results of the campaign against illiteracy mentioned in paragraph 187 of the report.
34. Paragraph 177 of the report speaks of the "increased number of graduates" but is silent on their employment possibilities. Please provide such information.
Article 15: The right to take part in cultural life
35. Morocco is a country with a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Please describe the efforts being deployed to promote the active participation of the population in the preservation and enjoyment of this heritage.
36. Please provide information on the measures adopted by the State party to extend to the whole population, in particular to the most vulnerable groups, the benefits of culture and scientific progress and its applications.