ÿWPCK ð_£|•±"2R…6”;Õ“¢…hq4K8¿‚Z?[È&[¡*÷„BµÙlû3~¬éÚ^õ§‹Ýᵿø¦M¡öEAýVlé÷ÅWó%ÝŸf|‚šŒÆu/¤%FÛWT¶³½Ñ°¯û1SÕP%ÜZ¼çK5·;x? ç¤ÿ,“D—n˜FPSׯÖN}í§z ÒMù5Ýšæ1zµ[-zƲÆTôþííÌë˜ÛVf“eå8†…ޱܷWqq@N" ›îQPí %a¯ŒÎ-”V~ò#ý‰f×XB%@rC¤8ÜÁ ±ñx‰­¿âîˆXu(?P«¶ëy6•êöŽë}~”Ï(­‘ˆùÒŠq× É•ò¨é±\³åa„+æjEB¢È¦Þé&”»[ΔE …];7 üqT¾÷öêáÊò뜦~Î.øs©ÕÔ§:ý^=F;»b“™ Oåõ¤èŸaÑ/ge–<¹—3[\ j79<„€~{!®ŒÅ)L¤î ò¼ŸÄ-¿¯Íöºì’LßÒb†W“&-”tÊN ­=e’VoðÞÙý¡fuÇŸwðéyêÓä8%TLcÌ Ó!è>ïåÄ(÷»ÇùÓœ‚o #Á¨UNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,C˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô’ô* 5Oð*ê:i œ3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡¼e »XXÔò òÓ  ÓBELGIUMó óÔ#†X#®X»¼e =#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ_ÓÓÓÌÌÓ½Óò òÓ  ÓCESCR€E/1995/22ó óÐ “ã ÐÌÌ144.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Belgium€on€articles€1€to€15€of€the€CovenantÐ O Ÿ Ð(E/1990/5/Add.15)€at€its€15òòthóó,€16òòthóó€€and€17òòthóó€€meetings€on€11€and€13€May€and,€at€its€27òòthóó€€meeting€onÐ 8 ˆ Ð20€May€1994,€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations.Ð ! q Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð  Z  ÐA.€òòIntroductionóóÐ ó C  ÐÌ145.€€The€Committee€thanks€the€State€party€for€the€comprehensive€report€submitted€and€for€theÐ Å  Ðdetailed€additional€information,€including€extensive€statistical€data,€provided€both€orally€and€inÐ ®þ  Ðwriting€by€the€delegation€in€response€to€the€Committee's€questions€and€comments.€The€CommitteeÐ —ç  Ðregrets,€however,€that€the€report€was€submitted€nearly€10€years€late.€In€this€regard,€it€takes€note€ofÐ €Ð  Ðthe€explanations€provided€by€the€Belgian€Government€according€to€which€the€delay€was€due€to€aÐ i¹ Ðnumber€of€concomitant€factors€connected,€among€other€things,€with€the€continuous€process€ofÐ R¢ Ðreform€of€the€State,€which€is€reflected€in€changes€in€the€responsibilities€of€its€internal€administrativeÐ ;‹ Ðauthorities,€with€the€density€and€complexity€of€the€social€welfare€system€created€in€Belgium,€andÐ $t Ðwith€budgetary€restraints€which€have€a€negative€impact€on€the€level€of€staffing€of€the€country'sÐ  ] Ðpublic€services.€Nevertheless,€the€Committee€wishes€to€emphasize€that€those€explanations€shouldÐ öF Ðnot€be€considered€by€the€Belgian€Government€as€justification.€States€parties€must€comply€with€theÐ ß/ Ðreporting€obligations€they€have€freely€assumed€under€the€Covenant.€The€Committee€hopes€that€theÐ È Ðfrank€and€excellent€dialogue€which€has€just€begun€between€the€Committee€and€the€State€party€willÐ ± Ðcontinue€in€the€future€on€a€regular€basis.Ð šê Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ƒÓ ÐB.€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantÐ l¼ ÐóóÌ146.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€fact€that€Belgian€authorities,€referring€to€article€2,Ð >Ž Ðparagraph€1€of€the€Covenant,€relating€to€progressive€measures€to€be€taken€by€States€parties€toÐ ' w Ðimplement€the€Covenant,€are€of€the€view€that€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€do€not€have€directÐ !` Ðeffect€and€cannot€be€directly€invoked€by€complainants€before€Belgian€courts€and€tribunals.€On€theÐ ù!I  Ðother€hand,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€andÐ â"2! Ðother€conventions,€such€as€the€European€Social€Charter,€to€which€Belgium€is€a€party,€are€directlyÐ Ë#" Ðapplicable€under€Belgian€law.€The€different€status€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,Ð ´$ # ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€in€domestic€law€appears€to€be€confirmed€by€a€decision€of€the€Court€ofÐ %í $ ÐCassation€of€1990.€The€Committee€does€not€share€the€view€of€the€Belgian€authorities€and€recalls€thatÐ †&Ö!% Ðin€its€General€Comment€No.€3€(1990)€on€the€nature€of€States€parties€obligations€under€article€2€ofÐ o'¿"& Ðthe€Covenant,€it€refers€to€a€number€of€provisions€in€the€Covenant,€such€as€those€of€article€8€on€theÐ X(¨#' Ðright€to€strike€and€those€of€article€13€on€the€right€to€education,€which€seem€to€be€capable€ofÐ A)‘$( Ðimmediate€application€by€judicial€and€other€organs€in€many€national€legal€systems.€The€CommitteeÐ **z%) Ðis€of€the€view€that€any€suggestions€that€the€provisions€indicated€are€inherently€non-self-executingÐ +c&* Ðseem€to€be€difficult€to€sustain.Ð ü+L'+ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð å,5(, ÐC.€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ Î-)- Ї147.€€The€Committee€commends€Belgium€on€the€measures€it€has€taken€to€give€effect€to€theÐ ° Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant€and€especially€on€the€inclusion€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rightsÐ ™é Ðin€the€new€text€of€the€Belgian€Constitution€of€February€1994.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ148.€€The€Committee€also€commends€the€State€party€on€its€comprehensive€health€insurance€systemÐ T¤ Ðwhich€could€be€considered€a€model€for€other€countries.€It€notes€with€particular€satisfaction€that,Ð =  Ðsince€1990,€maternity€insurance€has€constituted€a€specific€branch€of€social€security€in€Belgium€andÐ & v Ðthat€maternity€allowance€no€longer€constitutes€an€obstacle€to€the€hiring€of€women€workers.Ð  _ ÐÌ149.€€The€Committee€also€notes€with€satisfaction€the€measures€taken€in€Belgium€to€guarantee€incomeÐ á 1  Ðfor€elderly€persons€and,€in€particular,€to€grant€an€allowance€to€elderly€persons€who€have€very€limitedÐ Ê   Ðmeans€or€a€minimum€pension.Ð ³  ÐÌ150.€€In€addition,€the€Committee€welcomes€the€information€that€the€legal€provisions€establishingÐ …Õ  Ðcriteria€in€the€calculation€of€pensions,€which€appear€to€be€discriminatory€between€men€and€women,Ð n¾  Ðare€in€the€process€of€being€reviewed€in€order€to€ensure€equal€treatment€and€to€add€an€invalidityÐ W§  Ðscheme.Ð @ ÐÌ151.€€The€Committee€also€notes€that€with€regard€to€strikes€by€public€servants,€in€recent€yearsÐ b Ðdisciplinary€punishments€had€not€been€applicable€and€that€the€Council€of€State€in€its€ruling€on€theÐ ûK Ðapplication€of€article€44€of€the€Royal€Decree€of€1991€stated€that€it€implicitly€guaranteed€publicÐ ä4 Ðservants'€right€to€strike.Ð Í Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ¶ ÐD.€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ Ÿï ÐÌ152.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€lack€of€legislative€measures€still€existing€in€BelgiumÐ qÁ Ðwith€regard€to€the€establishment€of€clear€and€objective€criteria€to€regulate€the€access€of€employers'Ð Zª Ðand€workers'€organizations€to€the€National€Labour€Council€and€to€various€commissions€of€the€publicÐ C“ Ðand€private€sectors€where€collective€conventions€are€elaborated.€It€recalls,€in€this€connection,€thatÐ ,| Ðthe€enactment€of€such€legislative€measures€has€been€repeatedly€recommended€by€the€ILO€CommitteeÐ e Ðof€Experts€on€Conventions€and€Recommendations.Ð þN ÐÌ153.€€In€addition,€the€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€most€vulnerable€groups€of€society€inÐ Ð!   ÐBelgium€are€not€always€adequately€protected.€In€this€regard,€it€is€particularly€concerned€about€theÐ ¹" ! Ðreductions€made€in€1993€with€regard€to€subsidies€and€certain€social€benefits,€such€as€some€categoriesÐ ¢#ò" Ðof€reimbursable€medicines.€The€Committee€regrets€that€this€negative€trend€is€developing€in€BelgiumÐ ‹$Û# Ðas€well€as€in€other€European€countries.Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌ154.€€Moreover€the€Committee,€while€noting€with€satisfaction€that€the€right€to€housing€has€beenÐ F'–"& Ðinscribed€in€the€recently€revised€Constitution€of€Belgium,€expresses€concern€about€the€adequacy€ofÐ /(#' Ðthe€measures€taken€actually€to€enforce€that€constitutional€provision.€In€that€respect€the€attention€ofÐ )h$( Ðthe€Government€is€drawn€to€section€E€below.Ð *Q%) Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð ê*:&* ÐE.€òòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ Ó+#'+ ÐÌ155.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€right€to€strike€should€be€explicitly€inscribed€in€BelgianÐ ¥-õ(- Ðlaw.Ð ° ÐÌ156.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€legislative€measures,€which€are€under€elaboration,€toÐ ‚Ò Ðregulate€the€access€of€employers'€and€workers'€organizations€to€the€National€Labour€Council€andÐ k» Ðother€organs€should€be€speedily€enacted.Ð T¤ ÐÌ157.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Belgian€authorities€should€take€appropriate€measures€toÐ & v Ðpromote€investment€programmes€and€encourage,€in€particular,€the€construction€of€low-cost€rentalÐ  _ Ðhousing.€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€refers€to€its€General€Comment€No.€4€(1991)€concerningÐ ø H Ðthe€right€to€adequate€housing€and€points€out€that€in€situations€indicating€a€clear€deterioration€in€theÐ á 1  Ðenjoyment€of€that€right,€urgent€measures€should€be€taken€by€the€authorities€concerned.€TheÐ Ê   ÐCommittee,€in€view€of€the€problems€in€the€housing€sector,€which€are€still€considerable,€urges€theÐ ³  ÐGovernment€to€establish€an€official,€nationwide€commission€on€housing,€comprising€representativesÐ œì  Ðof€Government,€non-governmental€organizations€and€other€relevant€groups.€In€view€of€theÐ …Õ  Ðnon-discrimination€clauses€contained€in€article€2€(2)€of€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€strongly€urgesÐ n¾  Ðthe€Government€fully€to€ensure€that€persons€belonging€to€ethnic€minorities,€refugees€and€asylumÐ W§  Ðseekers€are€fully€protected€from€any€acts€or€laws€which€in€any€way€result€in€discriminatory€treatmentÐ @ Ðwithin€the€housing€sector.€In€view€of€information€received€by€the€Committee€that€not€all€socialÐ )y Ðhousing€units€are€occupied€by€lower€income€groups,€the€Committee€urges€the€Government€toÐ b Ðundertake€all€necessary€measures€to€ensure€that€lower-income€groups€have€access€to€social€housingÐ ûK Ðwhich€is€affordable.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€more€intensively€to€apply€existing€lawsÐ ä4 Ðallowing€the€Government€to€requisition€properties€and€housing€left€unoccupied€by€owners.Ð Í ÐÌ158.€Finally,€the€Committee€requests€the€Government€of€Belgium€to€submit€its€second€periodicÐ Ÿï Ðreport€by€31€May€1997.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓâÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ¥-õ(- ЇÔ_Ôò òÔUKUS.,ÔCESCR€E/2001/22ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ463.à  àThe€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Belgium€on€theÐ l¼ Ðimplementationof€the€Covenant€(E/1990/6/Add.18)€at€its€64th€to€66th€meetings,€held€on€17Ð U¥ Ðand20November2000,€and€adopted,€at€its€78th€and€79th€meetings,€held€on€28€November€2000,Ð > Ž Ðthe€following€concluding€observations.Ð ' w ÐÌò òA.€€Introductionó óÐ ù I ÐÌ464.à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€submission€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€State€party,Ð Ì   Ðwhich€was€prepared€in€general€in€conformity€with€the€Committeeððs€guidelines.€€A€delegation€ofÐ µ  Ðofficials€competent€in€various€fields€provided€extensive€written€and€oral€replies€to€theÐ žî  ÐCommitteeððs€list€of€issues.€€The€Committee€welcomes€in€particular€the€open€and€constructiveÐ ‡×  Ðdialogue€with€the€Belgian€delegation.Ð pÀ  ÐÌò òB.€€Positive€aspectsó óÐ B’ ÐÌ465.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€positive€attitude€of€the€State€party€towards€theÐ e Ðactive€participation€of€civil€society€in€promoting€and€protecting€economic,€social€and€culturalÐ þN Ðrights,€and€the€fact€that€the€delegation€of€the€State€party€invited€a€representative€of€a€nationalÐ ç7 Ðnon„governmental€organization€to€address€the€Committee€during€the€dialogue.Ð Ð  ÐÌ466.à  àThe€Committee€also€notes€with€appreciation€the€State€partyððs€indication€of€its€support€forÐ ¢ò Ðthe€Committeeððs€work€with€regard€to€the€draft€optional€protocol€to€the€Covenant.Ð ‹Û ÐÌò òC.€€Factors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€Covenantó óÐ ]­ ÐÌ467.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€there€are€not€sufficient€mechanisms€to€coordinateÐ 0€ Ðand€ensure€uniformity€of€compliance,€at€both€the€federal€and€regional€levels,€with€the€StateÐ i Ðpartyððs€international€human€rights€obligations.Ð  R ÐÌ468.à  àThe€Committee€notes€that€article€23€of€the€Constitution€of€Belgium€represents€a€stepÐ Ô!$  Ðforward€in€that€it€incorporates€a€number€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€leaving€theÐ ½" ! Ðguarantee€of€such€rights€to€statutes€and€royal€decrees.€€However,€such€legislation€has€so€far€notÐ ¦#ö" Ðbeen€adopted.€€While€article€23,€read€in€conjunction€with€other€fundamental€rights€guarantees€ofÐ $ß# Ðthe€Constitution€of€Belgium,€could€be€interpreted€to€be€applicable€directly€in€the€domestic€legalÐ x%È $ Ðorder,€such€interpretation€still€depends€on€the€exercise€of€discretion€by€the€national€courts.Ð a&±!% ÐÌò òD.€€Principal€subjects€of€concernó óÐ 3(ƒ#' ÐÌ469.à  àThe€Committee€regrets€that€the€State€party€has€not€established€a€comprehensive€nationalÐ *V%) Ðplan€of€action€for€human€rights,€in€accordance€with€paragraph€71€of€the€1993€Vienna€DeclarationÐ ï*?&* Ðand€Programme€of€Action.ò òòò9ó óóó€Ð Ø+('+ ÐÌ470.à  àThe€Committee€also€expresses€its€concern€about€the€lack€of€an€independent€nationalÐ ª-ú(- Ðhuman€rights€institution,€established€in€accordance€with€the€Paris€Principles,ò òòò10ó óóó€which€would€serveÐ ° Ðto€monitor€the€entire€range€of€human€rights€in€the€country.€Ð ™é ÐÌ471.à  àThe€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€that€there€is€no€specific€legislation€which€outlawsÐ k» Ðacts€of€xenophobia€and€racism,€and€in€particular€the€activities€of€right„wing€racist€politicalÐ T¤ Ðparties,€which€are€increasingly€present€on€the€political€scene,€especially€in€Flanders.Ð =  ÐÌ472.à  àThe€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€the€discriminatory€effects€against€women€ofÐ  _ Ðthe€so„called€rule€regarding€cohabitants€in€the€unemployment€insurance€regime€of€Belgium.Ð ø H ÐÌ473.à  àThe€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€the€persistent€gap€between€the€unemploymentÐ Ê   Ðrates€of€men€and€women€and€the€discrepancy€between€them€with€regard€to€wages.Ð ³  ÐÌ474.à  àThe€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€the€considerable€unemployment€amongÐ …Õ  Ðyoung€people€and€the€fact€that€that€State€party€has€not€sufficiently€addressed€the€long„termÐ n¾  Ðunemployment€of€persons€over€45€years€of€age,€nor€the€situation€of€those€who€have€been€forcedÐ W§  Ðinto€early€retirement.Ð @ ÐÌ475.à  àThe€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€the€phenomena€of€paedophilia,€prostitution€ofÐ b Ðchildren,€child€pornography€and€violence€against€children.Ð ûK ÐÌ476.à  àIn€the€light€of€article€11€of€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€is€concerned€about€theÐ Í Ðsignificant€shortage€of€social€housing€in€Belgium,€especially€in€Flanders.€€The€Committee€is€alsoÐ ¶ Ðconcerned€that€larger€families,€as€well€as€single„parent€and€low„income€families,€are€at€aÐ Ÿï Ðdisadvantage€in€qualifying€for€such€social€housing.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ477.à  àThe€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€that€the€State€party€has€not€established€adequateÐ Zª Ðmechanisms€to€ensure€uniformity€in€the€application€of€educational€standards,€includingÐ C“ Ðinternational€norms€on€education,€in€all€regions,€owing€to€the€fact€that€the€regional€governmentsÐ ,| Ðhave€primary€responsibility€in€the€formulation€of€educational€policy.€€The€Committee€alsoÐ e Ðregrets€that€the€delegation€provided€uneven€information€on€the€implementation€of€the€right€toÐ þN Ðeducation€in€the€different€regions.Ð ç 7 ÐÌ478.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that,€in€1998,€Belgium€devoted€only€0.35percent€ofÐ ¹" ! Ðits€GDP€to€international€cooperation,€while€the€UnitedNations€recommendation€in€this€regardÐ ¢#ò" Ðis0.7percent€for€industrialized€countries.Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌò òE.€€Suggestions€and€recommendationsó óÐ ]&­!% ÐÌ479.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that,€in€the€next€periodic€report,€the€State€party€provideÐ 0(€#' Ðmore€details€on€the€mechanisms€adopted€to€coordinate€and€ensure€uniformity€in€activities€by€theÐ )i$( Ðvarious€levels€of€government€aimed€at€complying€with€international€human€rights€obligations,€inÐ *R%) Ðthe€light€of€article€28€of€the€Covenant.Ð ë*;&* ÐÌ480.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€formulate€and€adopt€a€comprehensive€plan€ofÐ ½, (, Ðaction€for€human€rights,€as€called€for€in€paragraph€71€of€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Ô_ÔProgrammeÐ ¦-ö(- Ðof€Action.Ð ° ÐÌ481.à  àThe€Committee€also€urges€the€State€party€to€establish€an€independent€national€humanÐ ‚Ò Ðrights€institution,€in€accordance€with€the€Paris€Principles.Ð k» ÐÌ482.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party,€having€ratified€the€Covenant,€takeÐ =  Ðappropriate€steps€to€guarantee€fully€the€direct€applicability€of€the€Covenant€in€the€domesticÐ & v Ðlegalorder.Ð  _ ÐÌ483.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€adopt€measures€to€ensure€thatÐ á 1  Ðxenophobia,€racism€and€activities€of€racist€organizations,€groups€or€political€parties€are€outlawed,Ð Ê   Ðwith€a€view€to€complying€with€the€principle€of€non„discrimination,€set€forth€in€article€2,Ð ³  Ðparagraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.Ð œì  ÐÌ484.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€revise€the€rule€regarding€Ô_ÔcohabitantsÔ_Ô€in€theÐ n¾  Ðunemployment€insurance€regime,€in€order€to€eliminate€its€indirect€discriminatory€impact€onÐ W§  Ðwomen.€Ð @ ÐÌ485.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€undertake€more€active€measures€toÐ b Ðaddress€the€inequality€of€employment€between€men€and€women€and€the€discrepancy€in€wagesÐ ûK Ðbetween€them,€as€well€as€to€promote€womenððs€access€to€all€levels€of€the€labour€market.€Ð ä4 ÐÌ486.à  àThe€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€combat€unemployment€among€youngÐ ¶ Ðpeople€and€the€long„term€unemployment€of€workers€over€the€age€of€45,€through€appropriateÐ Ÿï Ðvocational€and€technical€training.€€The€Committee€would€welcome€more€information€in€the€StateÐ ˆØ Ðpartyððs€next€periodic€report€on€the€measures€taken€and€on€the€results€achieved.Ð qÁ ÐÌ487.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€effective€measures€to€combat€Ô_ÔpaedophiliaÔ_Ô,Ð C“ Ðchild€prostitution,€child€pornography€and€violence€against€children,€and€to€seek€internationalÐ ,| Ðcooperation€in€this€regard.€Ð e ÐÌ488.à  àThe€Committee€urgently€requests€more€detailed€information€in€the€State€partyððs€nextÐ ç 7 Ðperiodic€report€on€the€situation€of€social€housing€in€Belgium,€especially€in€Flanders.€€TheÐ Ð!   ÐCommittee€also€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€measures€to€eliminate€the€disadvantage€ofÐ ¹" ! Ðlarger€families,€as€well€as€of€single„parent€and€low„income€families,€in€qualifying€for€such€socialÐ ¢#ò" Ðhousing.Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ489.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€establish€an€adequate€mechanism€toÐ ]&­!% Ðmonitor€and€ensure€uniformity€of€educational€standards,€such€as€those€arising€from€internationalÐ F'–"& Ðlegal€obligations,€throughout€the€country.€€In€addition,€the€Committee€would€welcomeÐ /(#' Ðinformation€in€its€next€periodic€report€that€reflects€adequately€and€in€a€balanced€manner€theÐ )h$( Ðsituation€of€education€in€all€regions€and€communities.€€Ð *Q%) ÐÌ490.à  àThe€Committee€requests€more€information€in€the€State€partyððs€next€periodic€reportÐ Ó+#'+ Ðconcerning€the€initiative€introduced€in€September€1999€to€assist€Flemish€secondary€schoolÐ ¼, (, Ðstudents€who€are€in€conflict€with€the€educational€system€and,€if€the€initiative€has€provedÐ ¥-õ(- Ðsuccessful,€the€Committee€suggests€that€consideration€be€given€to€its€introduction€in€all€theÐ ° Ðregions.Ð ™é ÐÌ491.à  àThe€Committee€looks€forward€to€receiving€information€from€the€State€party€in€its€nextÐ k» Ðperiodic€report€on€the€enjoyment€of€the€right€to€participate€in€and€benefit€from€cultural€life,€suchÐ T¤ Ðas€access€to€cultural€activities€and€cultural€property,€especially€by€disadvantaged€andÐ =  ÐÔ_ÔmarginalizedÔ_Ô€groups€in€society,€persons€with€disabilities€and€older€persons.€Ð & v ÐÌ492.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€review€its€budget€allocation€forÐ ø H Ðinternational€cooperation€with€a€view€to€increasing€its€contribution,€in€accordance€with€theÐ á 1  ÐUnitedNations€recommendation.Ð Ê   ÐÌ493.à  àThe€Committee€encourages€the€Government€of€Belgium,€as€a€member€of€internationalÐ œì  Ðbodies,€in€particular€IMF€and€the€World€Bank,€to€do€all€it€can€to€ensure€that€the€policies€andÐ …Õ  Ðdecisions€of€those€organizations€are€in€conformity€with€the€obligations€of€States€parties€to€theÐ n¾  ÐCovenant,€in€particular€the€obligations€contained€in€article€2,€paragraph€1,€concerningÐ W§  Ðinternational€assistance€and€cooperation.€Ð @ ÐÌ494.à  àThe€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€include€in€its€next€periodic€report€informationÐ b Ðon€how€the€State€party€has€taken€into€consideration€the€suggestions€and€recommendationsÐ ûK Ðcontained€in€the€present€concluding€observations.€€The€Committee€looks€forward€to€receiving€theÐ ä4 Ðthird€periodic€report€of€Belgium€no€later€than€30€June€2005.Ð Í ÐÌ495.à  àThe€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€disseminate€widely€the€present€concludingÐ Ÿï Ðobservations.Ð ˆØ ÐÔUS.,UK.,÷(ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌ