ÿWPC¬  ¸À‚@ìv†é÷õ ,ûÊDWIþó£Î^Š—µZàP܆CT2‰\;Mn“Ã~> OÆZ›wqåà–þÑ!??þ0 ýá&˜«ܧÜdpµú=SwÂé\»Dì¥D—©1¾=A¾b3/®%âä¨mØ ƒp×'Ñ ÍÔýèE?úHˆ=å©‘]B,›‚º'<Ó¦õ裴öyx=¦T¾éë1©7w³oºbͪƒ)åßoL›ÅhZ#ÁìUN­ %û 0: ^ ; wG 4K _ n mp ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ B ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,ÔÆyQ) è’.)¨˜ž3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ  dÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ€¼ç¤»XXÔò òDOMINICAN€REPUBLICÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÔ€X²XX»¼ç¤ÔÌÌÓ’ÓÓ  ÓCESCR€€E/1991/23ó óÐ œì ÐÌÌ213.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€concerning€articles€1Ð ` ° Ðto€15€of€the€Covenant€(E/1990/5/Add.4)€at€its€43òòrdóó€to€45òòthóó€and€47òòthóó€meetings,€held€on€7,€10€and€11Ð L œ ÐDecember€1990.€€(E/C.12/1990/SR.43„45€and€47).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ214.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€introduced€the€report€and€stated€that€it€reflected€legal€andÐ `  Ðinstitutional€measures€taken€by€the€Government€to€insure€the€proper€implementation€of€theÐ üL  Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€Those€provisions,€which€were€implementedÐ è8  Ðto€the€greatest€possible€extent,€were€however€very€difficult€to€apply€in€some€areas€because€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðweakness€of€the€relevant€government€institutions.Ð À  ÐÓÏÓÓ  ÓÌòòGeneral€mattersóóÐ ˜è ÐÌ215.€€As€to€the€general€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€was€implemented,€members€of€theÐ pÀ ÐCommittee€asked€for€detailed€information€on€how€the€Covenant€had€been€incorporated€into€domesticÐ \¬ Ðlegislation,€the€forms€taken€by€international€co„operation€and€its€amount€as€a€percentage€of€GNP,€theÐ H˜ Ðprogrammes€using€ODA€or€international€co„operation€to€promote€the€exercise€of€the€rights€coveredÐ 4„ Ðby€the€Covenant,€and€the€means€by€which€the€rights€set€out€in€articles€6€to€15€of€the€Covenant€wereÐ  p Ðguaranteed€to€foreigners.Ð  \ ÐÌ216.€€Information€was€also€requested€on€the€possible€impact€of€the€external€debt€on€the€enjoymentÐ ä4 Ðof€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€It€was€asked€what€the€percentageÐ Ð  Ðof€the€coloured€population€of€mixed€race€was€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€to€what€extent€thoseÐ ¼  Ðpopulation€groups€enjoyed€the€same€rights€as€did€white€Dominicans€and€whether€they€could€obtainÐ ¨ø Ðimportant€posts€in€the€countryððs€economic€life.€€Clarification€was€particularly€requested€on€theÐ ”ä Ðsituation€of€Haitian€workers€on€the€sugar€plantations€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€who,€according€toÐ € Ð Ðvarious€sources,€were€recruited€by€force€and€even€compelled€to€work€during€the€sugar„cane€harvestÐ l!¼ Ðseason,€and€on€the€subject€of€the€activities€carried€out€in€that€connection€by€an€official€body€knownÐ X"¨  Ðas€the€Ô_ÔConsejoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔEstatalÔ_Ô€del€Ô_ÔAzcarÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔCEAÔ_Ô).€€In€the€absence€of€figures€on€the€implementation€of€aÐ D#”! Ðnumber€of€rights€safeguarded€by€the€Covenant,€information€was€asked€on€the€way€in€which€theÐ 0$€" ÐDominican€Republicððs€statistical€system€was€organized.Ð %l # ÐÌ217.€€The€representative€of€ILO€referred€to€articles€6€to€10€of€the€Covenant€and€informed€theÐ ô&D"% ÐCommittee€of€the€Dominican€Republicððs€ratification€of€ILO€conventions€and€of€the€relevantÐ à'0#& Ðconclusions€and€recommendations€of€the€ILO€Committee€of€Experts€on€the€Application€ofÐ Ì($' ÐConventions€and€Recommendations.€€In€particular,€he€drew€the€Committeeððs€attention€to€the€seriousÐ ¸)%( Ðproblem€of€illegal€entry€by€Haitian€workers€who€had€been€rounded€up€by€force€on€the€plantations€andÐ ¤*ô%) Ðcompelled€to€work€on€them€under€bad€conditions.€€In€that€connection,€the€International€Labour€OfficeÐ +à&* Ðhad€recently€urged€the€Dominican€Secretariat€of€State€for€Foreign€Affairs€to€send€a€mission€to€theÐ |,Ì'+ Ðplantations€in€January€1991€to€look€into€the€living€conditions€of€the€persons€concerned.Ð h-¸(, ЇÌ218.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€the€Covenant€had€beenÐ œì Ðincorporated€into€domestic€legislation€and€had,€consequently,€become€an€integral€part€of€theÐ ˆØ ÐConstitution.€€The€Dominican€Republic€recognized€and€enforced€all€standards€of€international€law,Ð tÄ Ðin€particular€those€of€international€human€rights€instruments€at€the€inter„American€level.€€Thus,Ð `° Ðmeasures€had€recently€been€taken€to€ensure€that€the€Labour€Code€and€the€Constitution€were€broughtÐ L œ Ðinto€line€with€international€instruments€acceded€to€by€the€country,€such€as€the€Covenant.€€He€addedÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€foreigners€enjoyed€the€same€rights€and€privileges€as€citizens€and€that€xenophobia€as€well€asÐ $ t Ðdiscrimination€based€on€race,€colour€or€religion€did€not€exist€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€which€hadÐ  ` Ðalways€been€a€country€of€voluntary€exile.Ð ü L  ÐÌòòArticles€1€to€5óóÐ Ô$  ÐÌ219.€€Members€of€the€Committee€requested€more€information€on€the€situation€of€women€inÐ ¬ü  ÐDominican€society,€in€particular€on€their€participation€in€the€nationððs€political€and€social€life,€in€theÐ ˜è  Ðtrade€unions€and€in€employment,€on€the€measures€adopted,€on€the€difficulties€encountered,€and€onÐ „Ô  Ðthe€progress€achieved€in€promoting€equality€between€men€and€women€in€regard€to€the€rights€set€outÐ pÀ Ðin€articles€6€to€9€of€the€Covenant.Ð \¬ ÐÌ220.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€emphasized€that€women€did€not€suffer€fromÐ 4„ Ðdiscrimination€and€that€they€played€an€active€role€in€the€economic€life€of€the€country.Ð  p ÐÌòòArticle€6:€€Right€to€workóóÐ øH ÐÌ221.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€information€on€the€measures€adopted€to€preventÐ Ð  Ðdiscrimination€in€labour€matters,€on€the€cases€in€which€wages€were€supplemented€by€social€benefits,Ð ¼  Ðon€the€nature€and€terms€for€granting€State€social€welfare€to€the€poor€sectors€of€the€population,€on€theÐ ¨ø Ðamount€of€the€minimum€wage,€on€the€way€in€which€unemployment€had€developed€over€the€past€fiveÐ ”ä Ðyears,€on€the€system€of€protection€against€unemployment,€on€whether€there€were€unemploymentÐ €Ð Ðallowances,€on€the€judicial€bodies€available€to€workers€engaged€on€a€temporary€basis€to€the€detrimentÐ l¼ Ðof€their€labour€rights,€and€on€the€length€of€the€working€day€established€by€law.€€Morever,€it€wasÐ X ¨ Ðasked€whether€vocational€guidance€and€training€programmes€had€been€devised,€what€results€had€beenÐ D!” Ðachieved€by€the€Technical€and€Vocational€Training€Institute€in€its€activities€to€improve€productiveÐ 0"€  Ðemployment,€and€on€the€amount€of€financial€resources€available€for€it€to€achieve€its€objectives.Ð #l! ÐÌ222.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€the€minimum€monthly€wageÐ ô$D # Ðwas€1,120€pesos,€i.e.€€$97.40€and€that€unemployment€had€changed€from€28.5€per€cent€in€1986€to€20.8Ð à%0!$ Ðper€cent€in€1988.€€Reliable€statistics€by€sex€and€age„group€were€difficult€to€obtain€in€view€of€the€largeÐ Ì&"% Ðamount€of€employment€in€the€underground€economy€and€in€the€informal€economic€sector.€€TheÐ ¸'#& Ðworking€day,€regardless€of€sex,€was€set€out€in€the€labour€contract€and€could€not€exceed€8€hours€a€dayÐ ¤(ô#' Ðand€44€hours€a€week,€it€being€understood€that€the€working€week€must€end€at€noon€on€Saturday.€Ð )à$( ÐMorever,€temporary€workers€who€considered€that€their€labour€rights€were€infringed€upon€could€referÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Labour,€a€ministerial€body€for€settling€labour€conflicts€between€workersÐ h+¸&* Ðand€employers.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, ÐòòArticle€7:€€Right€to€just€and€favourable€conditions€of€workóóÐ ° ÐÌ223.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€information€on€the€machinery€for€establishing€minimumÐ ˆØ Ðwages,€the€role€of€that€machinery€in€the€collective€bargaining€process,€the€minimum€wages€accordingÐ tÄ Ðto€economic€branch€of€activity,€the€percentage€of€the€active€population€in€receipt€of€a€wage€lowerÐ `° Ðthan€the€minimum€wage,€and€the€proportion€of€the€wages€assessed€for€retirement€purposes.€€InÐ L œ Ðaddition,€clarification€was€requested€on€the€restrictions€imposed€on€the€rights€of€women€underÐ 8 ˆ Ðarticles€210€to€218€of€the€Labour€Code€and€the€situation€of€women€with€a€low€income€and€littleÐ $ t Ðeducation€as€far€as€the€rights€guaranteed€by€article€7€of€the€Covenant€were€concerned.€€AdditionalÐ  ` Ðinformation€was€also€requested€on€the€situation€of€unmarried,€widowed€or€divorced€women€and€menÐ ü L  Ðraising€their€children€on€their€own€and€on€the€legislation€and€practice€in€regard€to€paid€holidays.Ð è 8  ÐÌ224.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€minimum€salary€was€establishedÐ À  Ðby€the€National€Wages€Committee,€consisting€of€representatives€of€the€administration,€employersÐ ¬ü  Ðand€workers.€€The€amounts€of€the€minimum€wage€were€reviewed€by€the€Committee€at€least€onceÐ ˜è  Ðevery€three€years,€on€the€understanding€that€they€could€not€be€alerted€before€one€full€year€had€passed.€Ð „Ô  ÐWhile€no€distinction€was€drawn€in€that€regard€between€the€various€branches€of€economic€activity,Ð pÀ Ðthe€Committee€was€free€to€determine€the€minimum€wages€for€urban€areas€compared€with€rural€areas,Ð \¬ Ðin€the€light€of€the€countryððs€needs.€€Morever,€the€proportion€of€wages€assessed€for€retirementÐ H˜ Ðpurposes€was€determined€by€the€law€on€social€welfare€and€disablement€and€old€age€pensions€andÐ 4„ Ðconsisted€of€a€base€amount€equivalent€to€40€per€cent€of€the€average€monthly€wage€increased€in€termsÐ  p Ðof€the€number€of€paid„up€weekly€contributions.Ð  \ ÐÌ225.€€Concerning€the€situation€of€women€in€the€Dominican€economy,€the€representative€explainedÐ ä4 Ðthat€any€restriction€on€the€rights€mentioned€in€articles€210€to€218€of€the€Labour€Code€was€consideredÐ Ð  Ðby€law€as€a€breach€of€the€articles€in€question€and€complaints€in€that€regard€were€brought€before€theÐ ¼  ÐSecretariat€of€State€for€Labour.€€Women€had€the€same€access€as€did€men€to€vocational€trainingÐ ¨ø Ðcentres.€€Nevertheless,€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€as€in€any€developing€society,€women€with€a€lowÐ ”ä Ðincome€and€little€education€were,€compared€with€men€of€the€same€social€background,€generallyÐ €Ð Ðdisadvantaged€in€regard€to€training€opportunities.€€However,€women€who€were€better€off€were€ableÐ l¼ Ðto€obtain€training€and€therefore€suffered€no€discrimination€and€benefited€from€the€principle€of€equalÐ X ¨ Ðpay€for€equal€work.Ð D!” ÐÌòòArticle€8:€€Trade€union€rightsóóÐ #l! ÐÌ226.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€additional€information€on€trade€union€activities€and€theÐ ô$D # Ðrole€of€trade€unions€in€collective€bargaining,€on€the€provisions€governing€the€right€to€form€tradeÐ à%0!$ Ðunions€(arts.€€293€to€361€of€Book€V€of€the€Labour€Code),€on€the€right€of€civil€servants€to€form€tradeÐ Ì&"% Ðunions,€on€the€lawful€reasons€for€holding€strikes,€and€on€restrictions€on€the€right€to€strike€in€the€civilÐ ¸'#& Ðservice.€€In€this€connection,€clarification€was€requested€on€the€subject€of€public€services€or€servicesÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€public€utility€in€which€staff€were€not€authorized€to€strike.€€Furthermore,€it€was€asked€whether€theÐ )à$( Ðprocedure€whereby€a€strike€could€be€declared€only€after€it€had€been€voted€for€by€more€than€60€perÐ |*Ì%) Ðcent€of€the€workers€concerned€was€in€keeping€with€the€relevant€provisions€of€the€ILO€conventionsÐ h+¸&* Ðand€with€article€8€of€the€Covenant.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð227.€€In€his€reply€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€there€were€many€trade€unions€andÐ ° Ðtrade€union€organizations€in€the€Dominican€Republic€and€they€freely€exercised€their€activities€andÐ œì Ðthat€workers€could€make€use€of€the€right€to€strike€whenever€they€thought€fit,€provided€they€observedÐ ˆØ Ðthe€relevant€provisions€of€the€Labour€Code.€€Civil€servants€had€no€right€to€strike€in€cases€where€itÐ tÄ Ðis€considered€that€a€strike€would€prevent€the€operation€of€essential€State€services.Ð `° ÐÌòòArticle€9:€€Right€to€social€securityóóÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ228.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€further€details€on€the€extent€of€social€protection€and€theÐ  ` Ðsocial€security€system€in€the€case€of€sickness,€industrial€accidents,€death€of€a€spouse,€and€retirement.€Ð ü L  ÐIn€addition,€it€was€asked€why€social€security€expenditure€accounted€for€a€very€low€proportion€(0.5Ð è 8  Ðper€cent)€of€GNP€in€the€Dominican€Republic€and€whether€rural€workers€benefited,€as€did€urbanÐ Ô$  Ðworkers,€from€a€system€of€social€protection.Ð À  ÐÌòòArticle€10:€€Protection€of€the€family,€mothers€and€childrenóóÐ ˜è  ÐÌ229.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€additional€information€on€the€provisions€of€theÐ pÀ ÐConstitution€which€guarantee€the€right€to€freely€enter€into€marriage;€on€the€percentage€of€pregnantÐ \¬ Ðwomen€in€receipt€of€benefits€from€the€Social€Security€Office€and€women€receiving€benefits€fromÐ H˜ Ðother€public€bodies;€on€the€social€security€benefits€to€which€pregnant€women€were€entitled,€theÐ 4„ Ðsituation€in€that€regard€of€self„employed€women;€on€the€regulations€applicable€to€domestic€servants,Ð  p Ðthe€situation€regarding€abortion,€government€policy€on€retirement€pensions,€and€any€differenceÐ  \ Ðbetween€men€and€women€in€that€connection.€€Morever,€information€was€requested€on€theÐ øH Ðemployment€of€children€and€adolescents€and,€in€particular,€the€kind€of€work€in€which€they€could€beÐ ä4 Ðemployed,€the€percentage€of€minors€under€legal€age€who€were€in€employment;€special€measuresÐ Ð  Ðtaken€to€cut€down€the€number€of€abandoned€minors€and€to€protect€minors€against€economicÐ ¼  Ðexploitation€and€ill„treatment;€the€sanctions€imposed€in€the€event€of€a€breach€of€the€provisionsÐ ¨ø Ðgoverning€the€conditions€of€employment€for€women€and€minors;€special€measures€to€ensure€theÐ ”ä Ðprotection€and€education€of€handicapped€children€or€delinquent€minors€and,€lastly,€the€extent€of€theÐ €Ð Ðproblem€of€drug€addiction€among€the€young€and€the€programmes€implemented€by€the€GovernmentÐ l¼ Ðfor€juvenile€drug€addicts.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ230.€€In€addition,€more€information€was€requested€on€the€situation€of€illegitimate€children,€includingÐ 0"€  Ðthose€with€one€parent€being€a€member€of€a€diplomatic€mission;€on€the€legal€system€of€divorce€andÐ #l! Ðthe€proportion€of€marriages€which€had€ended€in€divorce;€on€any€measures€on€births€and€familyÐ $X" Ðplanning;€on€legislation€on€abortion;€and€on€any€trafficking€in€children€and€child€prostitution€andÐ ô$D # Ðmeasures€taken€to€combat€them.€€Lastly,€it€was€asked€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Labour€CodeÐ à%0!$ Ðwhereby€the€minimum€age€of€employment€was€14€were€consistent€with€international€standards.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ231.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€pointed€out€that€marriage€was€considered€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbe€the€legal€basis€of€the€family€and€that€it€could€be€entered€into€in€complete€freedom.€€Any€pregnantÐ )à$( Ðwoman€employed€by€the€State€or€its€agencies€was€entitled€to€compulsory€leave€for€the€six€weeksÐ |*Ì%) Ðpreceding€the€anticipated€date€of€birth€and€the€six€weeks€following€that€date.€€For€the€duration€of€thatÐ h+¸&* Ðleave,€she€drew€her€full€salary€and€maintained€her€employment,€with€all€the€rights€and€advantagesÐ T,¤'+ Ðderiving€from€it.€€The€minimum€age€for€retirement€was€set€at€60€years€of€age€and€no€distinction€wasÐ @-(, Ðmade€in€that€respect€between€men€and€women.€€With€regard€to€the€situation€of€self„employed€womenÐ ° Ðand€domestic€servants,€it€had€to€be€acknowledged€that€the€changing€and€non„institutionalized€natureÐ œì Ðof€professions€of€that€kind€made€their€social€security€cover€difficult.€€Those€questions€were€amongÐ ˆØ Ðthe€issues€taken€up€in€the€ongoing€review€of€the€Labour€Code.Ð tÄ ÐÌ232.€€The€representative€also€stressed€that€there€were€94,165€children€aged€between€10€and€14€whoÐ L œ Ðwere€engaged€in€productive€work€and€who€accounted€for€approximately€17€per€cent€of€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðeconomically€active€population.€€Such€a€percentage€might€seem€high€but€should€be€looked€at€in€theÐ $ t Ðcontext€of€the€very€high€unemployment€rate€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€Legislative€measures€hadÐ  ` Ðbeen€enacted€to€reduce€the€number€of€abandoned€children€and€to€protect€minors€from€exploitation.€Ð ü L  ÐUnder€the€legislation€relating€to€compulsory€assistance€to€persons€under€18,€parents€were€requiredÐ è 8  Ðto€look€after€their€minor€children€in€the€interest€of€society.€€Any€parent€who€failed€in€that€obligationÐ Ô$  Ðor€refused€to€conform€to€it€was€liable€to€a€two„year€prison€sentence.€€Special€measures€had€beenÐ À  Ðtaken€to€guarantee€the€protection€and€education€of€handicapped€children€and€of€delinquent€minorsÐ ¬ü  Ðthrough€public€centres€set€up€to€help€those€categories€of€persons.€€The€penalties€imposed€forÐ ˜è  Ðviolations€of€the€provisions€governing€the€working€condition€of€women€and€children€were€laid€downÐ „Ô  Ðin€the€Labour€Code€and€corresponded€to€those€applied€for€violations€of€the€rights€of€adult€males.Ð pÀ ÐÌòòArticle€11:€€Right€to€an€adequate€standard€of€livingóóÐ H˜ ÐÌ233.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€detailed€information€about€the€right€to€adequate€food€andÐ  p Ðthe€right€to€housing.€€In€particular€they€requested€information€on€the€implementation€and€results€ofÐ  \ Ðfood€programmes€and€projects€carried€out€with€the€assistance€of€international€organizations,€theÐ øH Ðpercentage€of€the€population€which€benefited€from€national€food€programmes,€the€assistance€givenÐ ä4 Ðto€peasants€in€the€form€of€loans€and€technical€assistance,€the€percentage€of€the€population€currentlyÐ Ð  Ðwithout€housing€or€living€in€substandard€housing,€the€loans€provided€for€purchasing€materials€forÐ ¼  Ðself„help€housing,€the€guarantees€provided€in€Dominican€legislation€for€the€protection€of€tenants,€andÐ ¨ø Ðthe€percentage€of€the€urban€and€rural€population€lacking€essential€services€such€as€drinking€water,Ð ”ä Ðsewerage€and€electricity.Ð €Ð ÐÌ234.€€Members€also€referred€to€information€to€the€effect€that€15,000€families€had€been€expelled€fromÐ X ¨ Ðtheir€dwellings€in€the€context€of€programmes€intended€to€remodel€urban€housing€estates€inÐ D!” Ðconnection€with€the€ceremonies€to€mark€the€500òòthóó€anniversary€of€the€landing€by€ChristopherÐ 0"€  ÐColumbus.€€These€expulsions€had€been€ordered€without€respect€for€the€relevant€legal€procedures€andÐ #l! Ðthe€families€were€living€in€extremely€difficult€economic€and€social€conditions.€€Consequently,Ð $X" Ðexplanations€were€requested€about€the€Dominican€Governmentððs€respect€for€the€rights€contained€inÐ ô$D # Ðarticle€11€of€the€Covenant.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ235.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€right€to€housing€and€the€right€toÐ ¸'#& Ðadequate€food€were€guaranteed€by€the€Constitution.€€There€remained,€however,€a€gap€between€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconstitutional€affirmation€of€those€rights€and€their€practical€implementation€and€the€Government€wasÐ )à$( Ðmaking€every€effort€to€guarantee€the€realization€of€the€rights€in€question.€€The€rate€of€house„buildingÐ |*Ì%) Ðfor€low„income€households€had€thus€progressed€considerably€although€the€Dominican€Republic€wasÐ h+¸&* Ðfacing€a€very€high€demographic€growth€rate.€€Rent€control€legislation€had€been€adopted€in€1959€inÐ T,¤'+ Ðorder€to€protect€tenants€who€could€be€expelled€from€their€dwellings€only€when€all€the€conditions€laidÐ @-(, Ðdown€by€the€law€had€been€met.Ð ° ÐÌ236.€€With€regard€to€the€right€to€adequate€food,€various€United€Nations€agencies,€including€FAO,Ð ˆØ Ðprovided€assistance€in€agriculture€aimed€mainly€at€promoting€the€production€of€basic€foodstuffs.€€AtÐ tÄ Ðthe€national€level€there€was€an€institute€in€charge€of€price€stabilization€which€distributed€foodstuffsÐ `° Ðto€low„income€families€and€also€acted€as€a€financing€agency.€€The€Agriculture€Bank€of€theÐ L œ ÐDominican€Republic€provided€appropriate€aid€to€farmers€in€the€form€of€soft€loans€and€purchases€ofÐ 8 ˆ Ðcrops€at€sufficiently€remunerative€prices.€€Efforts€were€also€being€made€to€provide€electricity€andÐ $ t Ðdrinking€water€supplies€to€the€entire€country.Ð  ` ÐÌòòArticle€12:€€Right€to€physical€and€mental€healthóóÐ è 8  ÐÌ237.€€Members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€have€information€on€the€proportion€of€the€populationÐ À  Ðcovered€by€the€social€security€scheme€as€compared€with€the€proportion€of€the€population€receivingÐ ¬ü  Ðbenefits€under€other€social€insurance€systems.€€They€also€asked€for€information,€including€statisticalÐ ˜è  Ðinformation,€on€the€health€care€system,€the€number€of€health€centres€in€urban€and€rural€areas,€theÐ „Ô  Ðmeasures€taken€by€the€Government€to€facilitate€the€purchase€of€medicines€by€the€most€disadvantagedÐ pÀ Ðsectors,€the€institutions€responsible€for€providing€medical€care€to€children,€and€immunization€andÐ \¬ Ðre„immunization€coverage€against€child€disease€in€addition€to€measles.Ð H˜ ÐÌ238.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€special€environmental€protection€measures€had€been€found€necessaryÐ  p Ðin€the€Dominican€Republic;€whether€measures€had€been€taken€to€eradicate€malaria;€whether€casesÐ  \ Ðof€AIDS€had€been€registered€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€combat€that€disease.Ð øH ÐÌ239.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€stressed€that€theÐ Ð  ÐSecretariat€of€State€for€Public€Health€and€National€Insurance€had€the€dual€task€of€monitoring€theÐ ¼  Ðhealth€of€the€population€and€implementing€welfare€programmes€for€people€with€low€incomes,€whoÐ ¨ø Ðcould€avail€themselves€of€free€medical€care€under€the€social€security€system.€€Public€Hospitals€wereÐ ”ä Ðdistributed€throughout€the€country€in€terms€of€population€density€in€the€different€regions.€€Further,Ð €Ð Ða€network€of€ð ðpopular€pharmaciesðð€had€been€set€up€in€order€to€provide€persons€with€low€income€withÐ l¼ Ðlow„cost€medicines.€€Excellent€results€had€also€been€achieved€in€combatting€a€certain€number€ofÐ X ¨ Ðendemic€or€epidemic€diseases€as€well€as€several€tropical€diseases.€€As€the€result€of€a€compulsory€andÐ D!” Ðsystematic€child€immunization€programme,€infant€mortality€had€dropped€conspicuously.Ð 0"€  ÐÌòòArticle€13€and€14:€€Right€to€educationóóÐ $X" ÐÌ240.€€Members€of€the€Committee€requested€information€on€the€illiteracy€rate€among€adults,€theÐ à%0!$ Ðpercentage€of€children€completing€the€sixth€grade,€the€income€of€a€primary€school€teacher€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðpublic€sector,€the€enrolment€in€public€and€private€education€at€the€secondary€and€higher€levels€andÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€distribution€by€sex,€the€assistance€provided€in€the€form€of€scholarships€and€educational€loans,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðthe€distribution€of€such€assistance€at€the€various€levels€of€education,€the€subsidies€given€forÐ )à$( Ðtextbooks€at€the€primary€level,€the€proportion€of€State€and€private€universities€and€statistics€onÐ |*Ì%) Ðenrolment€by€sex€in€the€universities.€€Furthermore,€information€was€requested€about€the€136,000Ð h+¸&* Ðchildren€who€did€not€attend€school€and,€more€particularly,€the€percentage€they€formed€of€the€totalÐ T,¤'+ Ðnumber€of€children.Ð @-(, ЇÌ241.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€in€1983€the€illiteracy€rate€hadÐ œì Ðbeen€1.33€per€cent€although€the€number€of€functional€illiterates,€in€other€words€people€whoÐ ˆØ Ðexperienced€problems€€in€reading€or€writing,€was€much€higher.€€The€purchase€of€textbooks€forÐ tÄ Ðprimary€education€was€in€principle€subsidized€by€the€State€and€salary€negotiations€were€currentlyÐ `° Ðtaking€place€with€a€view€to€upgrading€the€salaries€of€primary€school€teachers.€€The€total€number€ofÐ L œ Ðstudents€enrolled€in€secondary€and€higher€education€was€1,884,300€of€whom€there€were€1,297,000Ð 8 ˆ Ðin€the€first€cycle,€463,600€in€the€second€cycle€and€123,700€in€the€third€cycle.Ð $ t ÐÌòòArticle€15:€€Right€to€take€part€in€cultural€life€and€to€enjoy€the€benefits€of€scientific€progress€and€toÐ ü L  Ðbenefit€from€the€protection€of€the€interests€of€authorsóóÐ è 8  ÐÌ242.€€Noting€the€dearth€of€information€on€the€rights€established€in€article€15€of€the€Covenant,Ð À  Ðmembers€of€the€Committee€wished€to€have€detailed€information€on€the€measures€adopted€in€theÐ ¬ü  ÐDominican€Republic€to€give€effect€to€those€rights,€and€in€particular,€measures€taken€to€provide€accessÐ ˜è  Ðto€culture€for€the€public€at€large.Ð „Ô  ÐÌòòOther€mattersóóÐ \¬ ÐÌ243.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€addressed€a€written€statement€to€the€attention€of€theÐ 4„ ÐCommittee€in€which€he€pointed€out€that€the€questions€posed€and€observations€raised€by€members€ofÐ  p Ðthe€Committee€during€the€consideration€of€the€report€had€to€be€given€the€most€careful€attention€andÐ  \ Ðthe€most€appropriate€response.€€He€referred,€in€particular,€to€the€oral€comments€and€questions€madeÐ øH Ðwith€regard€to€denunciations€of€illegal€evictions€and€violations€of€the€rights€of€foreigners€which,€onÐ ä4 Ðaccount€of€their€gravity,€had€to€be€responded€to€seriously,€thoroughly€and€with€supporting€evidence.€Ð Ð  ÐIn€order€to€do€so,€a€suitable€lapse€of€time€was€needed€and,€therefore,€the€Government€expressed€theÐ ¼  Ðdesire€that€the€Committee€postpone€its€consideration€of€the€report€to€any€future€date€it€might€deemÐ ¨ø Ðappropriate.Ð ”ä ÐÌ244.€€The€representative€further€expressed€the€wish€that€the€future€dialogue€with€the€members€of€theÐ l¼ ÐCommittee€could€be€fruitful€and,€in€particular,€clothed€with€the€high€standards€befitting€the€dignityÐ X ¨ Ðof€a€sovereign€State€and€the€presumed€high€qualifications€of€the€experts.€€In€that€latter€regard,€heÐ D!” Ðexpressed€the€hope€that€neither€side€would€resort€to€improper€expressions€and€emotional€attitudesÐ 0"€  Ðwhich€were€unbecoming€of€government€representatives€and€of€real€experts.€€It€was€the€understandingÐ #l! Ðof€the€Dominican€Government€that€the€reports€of€sovereign€States,€who€were€the€unique€interpretersÐ $X" Ðof€their€national€interest,€were€not€ð ðgoodðð€or€ð ðbadðð€and€that€there€could€only€be€incompleteness€andÐ ô$D # Ðabsence€in€the€amount€and€scope€of€information€submitted.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ245.€€In€response€to€this€written€statement€the€Committee€expressed€the€view€that€it€was€essentialÐ ¸'#& Ðthat€the€spirit€of€constructive€dialogue€between€the€representatives€of€the€States€parties€be€maintainedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðand€that€extraneous€and€unhelpful€matters€should€be€avoided.€€It€noted€that,€in€a€subsequentÐ )à$( Ðstatement,€the€representative€had€reaffirmed€his€desire€to€co„operate€with€the€Committee€and€toÐ |*Ì%) Ðprovide€the€information€requested.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌòòConcluding€observationsÐ @-(, ÐóóÌ246.€€In€concluding€consideration€of€the€initial€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic,€the€CommitteeÐ œì Ðnoted€with€satisfaction€that€the€Government€of€that€country€was€prepared€to€establish€a€dialogue.€Ð ˆØ ÐThe€report€submitted€by€the€State€party,€however,€seemed€to€the€Committee€to€be€too€juridical€andÐ tÄ Ðlacking€in€information€on€the€practical€and€concrete€implementation€of€the€Covenant,€on€case€lawÐ `° Ðand€on€statistical€data€relating€to€the€various€rights€recognized€by€articles€6€to€15€of€the€Covenant.€Ð L œ ÐThe€information€concerning€the€relevant€articles€of€the€Constitution€or€the€texts€of€various€laws€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðregulations€appearing€in€the€report,€had€inadequately€developed€some€articles€of€the€Covenant,€suchÐ $ t Ðas€articles€9€and€11€or€had€not€developed€them€at€all€in€the€report,€such€as€article€15.Ð  ` ÐÌ247.€€Morever,€although€a€certain€amount€of€information€had€been€provided€in€response€to€the€issuesÐ è 8  Ðprovided€in€writing€for€the€delegation€of€the€Dominican€Republic€by€the€Committeeððs€pre„sessionalÐ Ô$  Ðworking€group,€relating€in€particular€to€the€minimum€wage,€the€length€of€the€working€day,Ð À  Ðretirement,€child€labour,€illiteracy€or€education,€many€other€issues€had€not€been€broached.€€ForÐ ¬ü  Ðinstance,€in€addition€to€the€issues€related€to€article€15€of€the€Covenant€which€had€not€been€developed,Ð ˜è  Ðthe€information€provided€in€respect€of€social€welfare,€trade€union€organizations,€the€right€to€strike,Ð „Ô  Ðthe€benefits€provided€for€pregnant€women,€abortion,€the€right€to€housing€and€to€health€had€beenÐ pÀ Ðconsidered€to€be€insufficient.Ð \¬ ÐÌ248.€€Further,€following€the€additional€questions€asked€and€comments€made€orally€by€the€membersÐ 4„ Ðof€the€Committee€concerning€the€actual€implementation€of€the€Covenant,€the€Government€of€theÐ  p ÐDominican€Republic€had€transmitted€a€written€statement€to€the€Committee€in€which€it€asked€for€anÐ  \ Ðadditional€period€of€time€in€which€to€reply.Ð øH ÐÌ249.€€Members€of€the€Committee€stated€their€deep€concern€at€the€situation€of€Haitian€workers€in€theÐ Ð  ÐDominican€Republic€and€wished€to€obtain€all€relevant€information€on€the€role€of€the€Ô_ÔCEAÔ_Ô€in€theÐ ¼  Ðrecruitment€of€these€workers,€on€the€condition€of€Haitian€workers€including€their€freedom€ofÐ ¨ø Ðmovement,€their€wage€and€their€working€conditions€and€any€measures€taken€by€the€GovernmentÐ ”ä Ðfollowing€the€report€established€by€the€Committee€appointed€by€the€President€of€the€DominicanÐ €Ð ÐRepublic€to€end€forced€labour.€€The€information€that€had€reached€members€of€the€CommitteeÐ l¼ Ðconcerning€the€massive€expulsion€of€nearly€15,000€families€in€the€course€of€the€last€five€years,€theÐ X ¨ Ðdeplorable€conditions€in€which€the€families€had€had€to€live,€and€the€conditions€in€which€theÐ D!” Ðexpulsions€had€taken€place€were€deemed€sufficiently€serious€for€it€to€be€considered€that€theÐ 0"€  Ðguarantees€in€article€11€of€the€Covenant€had€not€been€respected.Ð #l! ÐÌ250.€€The€Committee€consequently€requested€an€additional€report€on€those€issues€which€called€forÐ ô$D # Ðmore€detailed€development€as€well€as€answers€to€those€questions€which€had€been€kept€pending.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌÐ  ¸'#& Ðò òCESCR€€E/1992/23Ð ° ÐÌÌó óòòChapter€VIóóÐ tÄ ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€ADDITIONAL€INFORMATION€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIESÐ L œ ÐPURSUANT€TO€THE€COMMITTEEððS€REQUESTÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ...Ð  ` ÐÌ330.€€At€the€same€meeting,€the€Committee,€having€noted€that€the€Government€of€the€DominicanÐ è 8  ÐRepublic€had€not€responded€to€its€request€for€the€submission€of€additional€information€made€at€itsÐ Ô$  Ðfifth€session€(E/1991/23,€para.€€250),€decided€to€adopt€the€following€decision:Ð À  ÐÌà0  àà ` àð ðThe€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€draws€the€attention€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐGovernment€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€the€concluding€observations€which€it€adopted€atÐ „Ô  Ðits€fifth€session,€which€included€the€following€statement:ÐpÀ(#(# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#àððThe€information€that€had€reached€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€theÐ H˜ Ðmassive€expulsion€of€nearly€15,000€families€in€the€course€of€the€last€five€years,€theÐ 4„ Ðdeplorable€conditions€in€which€the€families€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€to€live,€and€the€conditions€inÐ  p Ðwhich€the€expulsions€had€taken€place€were€deemed€sufficiently€serious€for€it€to€beÐ  \ Ðconsidered€that€the€guarantees€in€article€11€of€the€Covenant€had€not€been€respected.ÐøH` (#` (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#àà ¸ àThe€Committee€consequently€requested€an€additional€report€on€those€issuesÐ Ð  Ðwhich€called€for€more€detailed€development€as€well€as€answers€to€those€questionsÐ ¼  Ðwhich€had€been€kept€pending.ððШø` (#` (# ÐÌà0  àà ` àThe€Committee€notes€that€its€request€for€an€additional€report€on€those€issues€has€notÐ €Ð Ðyet€evoked€a€response€from€the€Government.€€It€notes€that€in€the€meantime€it€has€receivedÐ l¼ Ðadditional€information€from€several€sources,€including€that€contained€in€documentÐ X ¨ ÐE/C.12/1991/Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô/1,€which,€if€accurate,€would€give€rise€to€serious€concern€on€the€part€of€theÐ D!” ÐCommittee.€€The€Committee€thus€requests€the€State€party€to€suspend€any€actions€which€areÐ 0"€  Ðnot€clearly€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€and€requests€the€GovernmentÐ #l! Ðto€provide€additional€information€to€it€as€a€matter€of€urgency.Ð$X"(#(# ÐÌà0  àà ` àThe€Committee€requests€the€Secretary„General€of€the€United€Nations€to€inform€theÐ à%0!$ ÐGovernment€of€the€Dominican€Republic€of€the€Committeeððs€decision€as€soon€as€possible.ððÐÌ&"%(#(# ÐÌ331.€€In€that€connection,€the€Committee€emphasized€that€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmight€wish€to€avail€itself€of€the€advisory€services€available€from€the€Centre€for€Human€Rights€toÐ )à$( Ðassist€it€in€relation€to€efforts€to€promote€full€compliance€with€the€Covenant€in€the€case€of€the€large„Ð |*Ì%) Ðscale€evictions€referred€to€in€the€Committeeððs€report€(see€also€chapter€I,€draft€decision€III).Ð h+¸&* ÐÌÐ  @-(, Ðò òCESCR€€E/1993/22ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌòòChapter€VIóóÐ tÄ ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€ADDITIONAL€INFORMATION€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIESÐ L œ ÐPURSUANT€TO€THE€COMMITTEEððS€REQUESTÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ...Ð  ` ÐÌ201.€€At€the€23òòrdóó€meeting,€the€Committee,€having€noted€that€the€Government€of€the€DominicanÐ è 8  ÐRepublic€had€neither€responded€to€its€request€for€the€submission€of€additional€information€madeÐ Ô$  Ðclearly€at€its€fifth€session€(E/1991/23,€para.€250)€nor€to€its€offer€made€at€the€sixth€session€(E/1992/23,Ð À  Ðpara.€331),€and€subsequently€endorsed€by€the€Economic€and€Social€Council€in€its€decision€1992/261Ð ¬ü  Ðof€20€July€1992,€to€send€one€or€two€of€its€members€to€advise€the€Government€in€relation€to€effortsÐ ˜è  Ðto€promote€full€compliance€with€the€Covenant€in€case€of€the€large„scale€evictions€referred€to€in€theÐ „Ô  ÐCommitteeððs€reports,€decided€to€adopt€the€following€decision:Ð pÀ ÐÌà0  àà ` àð ðThe€Committee€notes€again€that€the€additional€information€referred€to€in€its€reportÐ H˜ Ðon€the€sixth€session,€if€accurate,€gives€rise€to€serious€concern€on€the€part€of€the€Committee.€Ð 4„ ÐThe€Committee€thus€repeats€its€request€to€the€State€party€to€avoid€any€actions€which€are€notÐ  p Ðclearly€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€also€repeats€its€request€for€theÐ  \ ÐGovernment€to€provide€additional€information€to€it€as€a€matter€of€urgency.ÐøH(#(# ÐÌà0  àà ` àð ðThe€Committee€requests€the€Secretary„General€to€inform€the€Government€of€itsÐ Ð  Ðdecision€as€soon€as€possible.ððм (#(# ÐÐ  ¨ø Ðò òCESCR€€E/1995/22ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ206.€€At€its€5òòthóó€meeting€on€4€May€1994,€the€Committee€considered€the€request€by€the€GovernmentÐ tÄ Ðof€the€Dominican€Republic€to€postpone€the€consideration€of€the€situation€in€that€country€until€its€nextÐ `° Ðsession€and,€at€its€7òòthóó€meeting€on€5€May€1994,€adopted€the€following€decision.Ð L œ ÐÌ207.€€In€view€of€the€existence€of€exceptional€circumstances€in€the€case,€the€Committee€agrees€to€aÐ $ t Ðrequest€from€the€representative€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€postpone€until€its€eleventh€sessionÐ  ` Ðconsideration€of€the€matters€arising€out€of€the€Committee's€request€to€the€Government€for€theÐ ü L  Ðprovision€of€additional€information.Ð è 8  ÐÌ208.€€The€Committee€notes€that€this€decision€is€based€upon€an€assurance€given€by€the€representativeÐ À  Ðof€the€State€party€to€the€Committee's€Chairperson€that€an€expert€from€the€capital€would€appear€beforeÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€Committee€in€relation€to€that€matter€at€the€meeting€scheduled€for€6€December€1994€during€theÐ ˜è  ÐCommittee's€eleventh€session.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ209.€€The€Committee€draws€the€attention€of€the€State€party€to€the€information€submitted€to€it€by€aÐ \¬ Ðnon-governmental€organization€during€the€tenth€session€and€made€available€to€the€Government€ofÐ H˜ Ðthe€Dominican€Republic,€and€invites€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€address€theÐ 4„ Ðmatters€identified€in€that€document€in€its€presentation€to€the€eleventh€session€of€the€Committee.Ð  p ÐÌ210.€€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€take€all€appropriate€measures€in€the€meantime€toÐ øH Ðensure€full€respect€for€all€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€in€particular€in€relation€to€the€right€toÐ ä4 Ðhousing.Ð Ð  ÐÌA.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ ¨ø ÐÌ309.€€At€its€43òòrdóó€and€44òòthóó€meetings€on€30€November€1994,€the€Committee€examined€matters€arisingÐ €Ð Ðout€of€the€requests€to€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€Republic€for€the€provision€of€additionalÐ l¼ Ðinformation,€in€particular€relating€to€the€right€to€adequate€housing.€€The€Committee€has€devotedÐ X ¨ Ðongoing€attention€to€these€issues€since€its€fifth€session€(1990),€with€particular€concern€about€allegedÐ D!” Ðinstances€of€large-scale€forced€evictions.€€At€its€tenth€session€the€Committee€urged€the€GovernmentÐ 0"€  Ðto€take€all€appropriate€measures€in€the€meantime€to€ensure€full€respect€for€all€economic,€social€andÐ #l! Ðcultural€rights,€in€particular€in€relation€to€the€right€to€housing.€€At€its€55òòthóó€meeting€on€8€DecemberÐ $X" Ð1994,€the€Committee€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ310.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€appearance€before€it€of€two€representatives,€including€an€expertÐ Ì&"% Ðfrom€the€capital,€and€the€opportunity€to€engage€in€a€constructive€dialogue€with€the€Government€onÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€right€to€adequate€housing.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌB.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ |*Ì%) ÐÌ311.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€frank€and€open€manner€in€which€the€Government€responded€toÐ T,¤'+ Ðquestions€put€to€it€and€its€willingness€to€acknowledge€many€of€the€difficulties€which€have€impededÐ @-(, Ðthe€implementation€of€the€Covenant.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€welcomes€the€informationÐ ° Ðreceived€on€the€extent€of€the€practice€of€forced€evictions,€the€impact€of€fraud€and€other€unfairÐ œì Ðpractices€in€the€allocation€of€public€housing€units€and€information€concerning€positive€changes€inÐ ˆØ ÐGovernment€policy.Ð tÄ ÐÌ312.€€The€Committee€notes€the€housing€rights€provisions€in€article€8€(15)€(b)€of€the€Constitution€andÐ L œ Ðseveral€recent€amendments€to€the€relevant€provisions€of€the€Constitution.€€It€notes€that€theseÐ 8 ˆ Ðprovisions€could,€if€reflected€fully€in€law€and€practice,€assist€in€promoting€enhanced€accountabilityÐ $ t Ðand€the€development€of€judicial€procedures€which€would€provide€an€effective€means€of€recourse€forÐ  ` Ðthose€whose€right€to€housing€is€threatened.Ð ü L  ÐÌ313.€€The€Committee€welcomes€those€aspects€of€decrees€76-94€of€29€March€1994€and€155-94€of€11Ð Ô$  ÐMay€1994€which€commit€the€State€to€providing€the€broadest€possible€protection€to€the€stability€ofÐ À  Ðthe€Dominican€family€and€to€giving€property€titles€to€all€families€who,€up€to€11€May€1994,€have€builtÐ ¬ü  Ðhomes€on€lands€declared€to€be€public€property.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€decision€by€theÐ ˜è  ÐGovernment€to€create€a€green€belt€around€the€city€of€Santo€Domingo,€and€its€commitment€toÐ „Ô  Ðconstruct€12,500€new€housing€units€for€low-income€communities.Ð pÀ ÐÌ314.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€Government's€statement€of€its€intention€to€amend€itsÐ H˜ Ðlegislation€and€policy€to€bring€them€into€line€with€the€obligations€arising€out€of€the€Covenant,€to€takeÐ 4„ Ðmeasures€with€regard€to€forced€evictions€and€to€adapt€relocation€policies€to€ensure€that€suchÐ  p Ðmeasures€are€carried€out€only€as€a€last€resort€and€that€when€they€do€occur€the€principle€of€a€"houseÐ  \ Ðfor€a€house"€will€be€respected.€€The€indication€by€the€Government€that€urgent€consideration€will€beÐ øH Ðgiven€to€suspending€decrees€358-91€and€359-91€is€particularly€welcomed€by€the€Committee.Ð ä4 ÐÌ315.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€undertaking€by€the€Government€to€submit€additional€informationÐ ¼  Ðon€all€questions€which€were€unanswered€and€to€give€positive€consideration€to€the€Committee'sÐ ¨ø Ðrequest€to€send€one€or€two€of€its€members€to€the€country€with€a€view€to€assisting€the€GovernmentÐ ”ä Ðin€implementing€the€rights€found€in€the€Covenant.Ð €Ð ÐÌC.€€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ X ¨ ÐÌ316.€€The€Committee€reiterates€the€importance€it€attaches€to€the€right€to€housing€and€reaffirms€itsÐ 0"€  Ðlong-standing€view€that€forced€evictions€are€prima€facie€incompatible€with€the€requirements€of€theÐ #l! ÐCovenant€and€can€only€be€justified€in€truly€exceptional€circumstances.€€The€situation€regardingÐ $X" Ðforced€evictions€within€the€country€continues€to€be€viewed€with€concern€by€the€Committee.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ317.€€The€Committee€has€received,€over€the€course€of€several€years,€detailed€and€precise€informationÐ Ì&"% Ðrelating€to€the€housing€situation€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€This€information€has€systematicallyÐ ¸'#& Ðbeen€provided€to€the€Government€with€a€request€for€comments€as€to€its€accuracy.€€That€informationÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhas€indicated,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that:Ð )à$( ÐÌà  à(a)€€Thirty€thousand€or€more€families€residing€in€the€Northern€Zone€(Zona€Norte)€of€theÐ h+¸&* Ðcapital€are€threatened€with€forced€eviction€under€decrees€358-91,€359-91€and€76-94.€€AreasÐ T,¤'+ Ðparticularly€affected€are€La€Cienaga-los€Guandules,€Gualey,€Barranca€de€Guachupita,€Simon€Bolivar,Ð @-(, ÐLa€Canada€de€Simon€Bolivar,€Barrio€27€de€Febrero,€La€Zurza,€Capotillo,€Las€Canitas,€Ens€Espaillat,Ð ° ÐMaquiteria,€Simonico,€Cristo€Rey,€Guaricano,€Borojol,€24€de€Abril€and€parts€of€the€Colonial€Zone;Ð œì ÐÌà  à(b)€€Thousands€of€families€have€been€evicted€from€the€site€of€the€"Faro€a€Colon"€in€the€cityÐ tÄ Ðwithout€regard€to€their€rights;Ð `° ÐÌà  à(c)€€Forced€evictions€have€also€occurred€in€cities€such€as€Santiago,€San€Juan€de€la€Maguana,Ð 8 ˆ ÐBoca€Chica€and€El€Seybo,€as€well€as€in€rural€areas€such€as€Los€Haitices€and€Jiguey-Aguacate;Ð $ t ÐÌà  à(d)€€Of€the€many€families€relocated€to€sites€on€the€periphery€of€Santo€Domingo€only€a€smallÐ ü L  Ðproportion€received€relocation€allowances€while€some€3,000€families€received€neither€relocationÐ è 8  Ðallowances€nor€adequate€compensation€for€their€eviction;Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  à(e)€€The€current€living€conditions€faced€by€those€relocated€as€a€result€of€Hurricane€David€inÐ ¬ü  Ð1979,€in€particular€the€106€families€residing€under€the€Duarte€Bridge€(Puente€Duarte)€and€the€658Ð ˜è  Ðfamilies€residing€in€los€Barrancones€de€Alcarrizo,€are€grossly€inadequate.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ318.€€While€the€Government€presented€the€Committee€with€information€as€to€the€achievements€andÐ \¬ Ðshortcomings€of€its€various€policies€in€relation€to€housing,€the€Committee€did€not€receive€anyÐ H˜ Ðinformation€which€would€lead€it€to€conclude€that€these€problems€do€not€exist€or€have€beenÐ 4„ Ðadequately€addressed.Ð  p ÐÌ319.€€It€therefore€expresses€its€serious€concern€about€the€nature€and€magnitude€of€the€problemsÐ øH Ðrelating€to€forced€evictions€and€calls€upon€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€take€urgentÐ ä4 Ðmeasures€to€promote€full€respect€for€the€right€to€adequate€housing.€€In€this€regard,€the€CommitteeÐ Ð  Ðnotes€that€whenever€an€inhabited€dwelling€is€either€demolished€or€its€inhabitants€evicted,€theÐ ¼  ÐGovernment€is€under€an€obligation€to€ensure€that€adequate€alternative€housing€is€provided.€€In€thisÐ ¨ø Ðcontext€"adequacy"€requires€relocation€within€a€reasonable€distance€from€the€original€site,€and€in€aÐ ”ä Ðsetting€which€has€access€to€essential€services€such€as€water,€electricity,€drainage€and€garbageÐ €Ð Ðremoval.€€Similarly,€persons€who€are€housed€in€conditions€which€threaten€their€life€and€healthÐ l¼ Ðshould,€to€the€maximum€of€available€resources,€be€adequately€rehoused.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ320.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€ease€with€which€the€Government€is€prepared€toÐ 0"€  Ðauthorize€or€undertake€the€demolition€of€homes,€even€when€such€dwellings€are€capable€of€beingÐ #l! Ðrepaired€or€renovated.€€It€appears€that€insufficient€attention€is€paid€in€this€context€to€extensiveÐ $X" Ðalternative€community€development€and€urban€improvement€plans€developed€by€popularÐ ô$D # Ðorganizations.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ321.€€The€Committee€was€informed€that€the€national€housing€unit€deficit€currently€stands€at€someÐ ¸'#& Ð500,000€units.€€If€correct,€this€level€would€be€exceptionally€high€given€the€relatively€small€populationÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€the€country.€€While€the€Committee€commends€the€Government€for€the€construction€of€roughlyÐ )à$( Ð4,500€housing€units€annually,€this€quantity€is€clearly€insufficient.€€Moreover,€€the€Committee€wasÐ |*Ì%) Ðalso€informed€that€less€than€17€per€cent€of€Government-built€housing€units€are€provided€to€theÐ h+¸&* Ðpoorest€sectors€of€society.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð322.€€On€the€basis€of€the€detailed€information€available€to€it,€the€Committee€also€wishes€toÐ ° Ðemphasize€its€concern€about€the€"militarization"€of€La€Ô_ÔCienagaÔ_Ô-Los€Ô_ÔGuandulesÔ_Ô,€the€long-standingÐ œì Ðprohibition€on€improving€or€upgrading€existing€dwellings€for€the€more€than€60,000€residents€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðarea,€and€the€inadequate€and€heavily€polluted€living€conditions.€€The€situation€is€especiallyÐ tÄ Ðproblematic€given€that€these€communities€were€originally€established€as€relocation€areas€for€evictedÐ `° Ðpersons€in€the€1950s.€€Since€that€time€the€Government€has€failed€to€confer€legal€security€of€tenureÐ L œ Ðon€residents€or€to€provide€basic€civic€services.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ323.€€The€Committee€also€notes€that,€based€on€available€information,€the€situation€of€the€200,000Ð  ` Ðpersons€residing€in€rooming€houses€in€Santo€Domingo€would€often€appear€to€be€below€anyÐ ü L  Ðacceptable€standards.Ð è 8  ÐÌ324.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€effects€Presidential€decrees€can€and€do€have€upon€theÐ À  Ðenjoyment€of€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant.€€It€wishes€to€emphasize€in€this€regard€theÐ ¬ü  Ðimportance€of€establishing€judicial€remedies€which€can€be€invoked,€including€in€relation€toÐ ˜è  ÐPresidential€decrees,€in€order€to€seek€redress€for€housing€rights€violations.€€The€Committee€is€notÐ „Ô  Ðaware€of€any€housing€rights€matters€that€have€been€considered€by€the€Supreme€Court€in€relation€toÐ pÀ Ðarticle€8€(15)€(b)€of€the€Constitution.€€In€so€far€as€this€might€be€taken€to€indicate€that€the€provisionÐ \¬ Ðhas€not€so€far€been€subject€to€judicial€review,€the€Committee€expresses€the€hope€that€greater€relianceÐ H˜ Ðwill€be€placed€upon€it€in€future€as€a€means€by€which€to€defend€the€right€to€adequate€housing.Ð 4„ ÐÌD.€€òòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ  \ ÐÌ325.€€The€Committee€draws€the€attention€of€the€Government€to€the€full€text€of€its€General€CommentÐ ä4 ÐNo.€€4€(1991)€on€the€right€to€adequate€housing€and€urges€the€Government€to€ensure€that€policy,Ð Ð  Ðlegislation€and€practice€take€due€account€of€that€General€Comment.Ð ¼  ÐÌ326.€€The€Government€should€ensure€that€forced€evictions€are€not€carried€out€except€in€trulyÐ ”ä Ðexceptional€circumstances,€following€consideration€of€all€possible€alternatives€and€in€full€respect€forÐ €Ð Ðthe€rights€of€all€persons€affected.€€On€the€basis€of€the€information€available€to€it,€the€Committee€hasÐ l¼ Ðno€reason€to€conclude€that€existing€plans€for€forced€eviction€in€Santo€Domingo,€to€which€its€attentionÐ X ¨ Ðhas€been€drawn,€are€necessitated€by€any€such€exceptional€circumstances.Ð D!” ÐÌ327.€€All€persons€residing€in€extremely€precarious€conditions,€such€as€those€residing€under€bridges,Ð #l! Ðon€cliff€sides,€in€homes€dangerously€close€to€rivers,€ravine€dwellers,€residents€of€Ô_ÔBarranconesÔ_Ô€andÐ $X" ÐPuente€Duarte,€and€the€more€than€3,000€families€evicted€between€1986-1994€who€have€yet€to€receiveÐ ô$D # Ðrelocation€sites€(from€Villa€Juana,€Villa€Ô_ÔConsueloÔ_Ô,€Los€Ô_ÔFrailesÔ_Ô,€San€Carlos,€Ô_ÔGuachupitaÔ_Ô,€La€Ô_ÔFuenteÔ_Ô,Ð à%0!$ ÐZona€Colonial,€Ô_ÔMaquiteriaÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔCristoÔ_Ô€Rey,€La€Ô_ÔCuarentaÔ_Ô,€Los€Ô_ÔRosÔ_Ô€and€La€Ô_ÔZurzaÔ_Ô),€should€all€be€ensured,Ð Ì&"% Ðin€a€rapid€manner,€the€provision€of€adequate€housing€in€full€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€theÐ ¸'#& ÐCovenant.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ328.€€The€Government€should€confer€security€of€tenure€on€all€dwellers€lacking€such€protection€atÐ |*Ì%) Ðpresent,€with€particular€reference€to€areas€threatened€with€forced€eviction.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ329.€€The€Committee€notes€that€Presidential€decrees€358-91€and€359-91€are€formulated€in€a€mannerÐ @-(, Ðinconsistent€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€urges€the€Government€to€consider€the€repealÐ ° Ðof€both€of€these€decrees€within€the€shortest€possible€time.€€The€Government€should€seek€to€removeÐ œì Ðthe€military€presence€in€La€Cienaga-Los€Guandules€and€allow€residents€the€right€to€improve€theirÐ ˆØ Ðhomes€and€the€community€at€large.€€The€Government€should€also€give€careful€consideration€toÐ tÄ Ðimplementing€alternative€development€plans€for€the€area,€taking€full€account€of€plans€developed€byÐ `° Ðnon-governmental€and€community-based€organizations.Ð L œ ÐÌ330.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€in€order€to€promote€the€objectives€referred€to€in€theseÐ $ t Ðobservations€the€Government€might€consider€the€establishment€of€commissions,€composed€ofÐ  ` Ðrepresentatives€of€all€relevant€sectors€of€society,€in€particular€civil€society,€to€oversee€theÐ ü L  Ðimplementation€of€decrees€76-94€and€155-94.Ð è 8  ÐÌ331.€€The€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€apply€existing€housing€rights€provisions€in€theÐ À  ÐConstitution€and€for€that€purpose€to€take€measures€to€facilitate€and€promote€their€application.€€SuchÐ ¬ü  Ðmeasures€could€include:€(a)€adoption€of€comprehensive€housing€rights€legislation;€(b)€legalÐ ˜è  Ðrecognition€of€the€right€of€affected€communities€to€information€concerning€any€governmental€plansÐ „Ô  Ðactually€or€potentially€affecting€their€rights;€(c)€adoption€of€urban€reform€legislation€whichÐ pÀ Ðrecognizes€the€contribution€of€civil€society€in€implementing€the€Covenant€and€addresses€questionsÐ \¬ Ðof€security€of€tenure,€regularization€of€land-ownership€arrangements,€etc.Ð H˜ ÐÌ332.€€In€order€to€achieve€progressively€the€right€to€housing,€the€Government€is€requested€toÐ  p Ðundertake,€to€the€maximum€of€available€resources,€the€provision€of€basic€services€(water,€electricity,Ð  \ Ðdrainage,€sanitation,€refuse€disposal,€etc.)€to€dwellings€and€to€ensure€that€public€housing€is€providedÐ øH Ðto€those€groups€of€society€with€the€greatest€need.€€It€should€also€seek€to€ensure€that€such€measuresÐ ä4 Ðare€undertaken€with€full€respect€for€the€law.Ð Ð  ÐÌ333.€€In€order€to€overcome€the€existing€problems€recognized€by€the€Government€in€its€dialogue€withÐ ¨ø Ðthe€Committee,€the€Government€is€urged€to€give€consideration€to€initiatives€designed€to€promote€theÐ ”ä Ðparticipation€of€those€affected€in€the€design€and€implementation€of€housing€policies.€€Such€initiativesÐ €Ð Ðcould€include:€(a)€a€formal€commitment€to€facilitating€popular€participation€in€the€urbanÐ l¼ Ðdevelopment€process;€(b)€legal€recognition€of€community-based€organizations;€(c)€the€establishmentÐ X ¨ Ðof€a€system€of€community€housing€finance€designed€to€open€more€lines€of€credit€for€poorer€socialÐ D!” Ðsectors;€(d)€enhancing€the€role€of€municipal€authorities€in€the€housing€sector;€(e)€improvingÐ 0"€  Ðcoordination€between€the€various€governmental€institutions€responsible€for€housing€and€consideringÐ #l! Ðthe€creation€of€a€single€governmental€housing€agency.Ð $X" ÐÌ334.€€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€revise€the€1994€Master€Plan€of€Santo€Domingo€toÐ à%0!$ Ðbring€it€into€line€with€the€obligations€arising€under€the€Covenant€and€to€involve€civil€society€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðrevision€and€implementation€of€the€Plan.€€Forced€evictions€should€not€be€envisaged€except€in€fullÐ ¸'#& Ðcompliance€with€the€conditions€noted€above.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ335.€€Subsequent€to€the€appearance€before€the€Committee€of€two€representatives€of€the€GovernmentÐ |*Ì%) Ðof€the€Dominican€Republic,€the€Committee€received€information€that,€based€on€a€recommendationÐ h+¸&* Ðby€the€Special€Committee€on€Urban€Affairs,€decree€371-94€was€promulgated€on€1€December€1994,Ð T,¤'+ Ðordering€the€immediate€eviction€of€two€sectors€situated€on€the€banks€of€the€Ô_ÔIsabelaÔ_Ô€River.€€In€theÐ @-(, Ðimplementation€of€this€decree€the€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€ensure€its€compliance€withÐ ° Ðthe€terms€of€the€Covenant€and€to€take€full€account€of€the€recommendations€contained€in€theseÐ œì Ðconcluding€observations.€€The€Committee€has€also€learnt€that€the€problem€of€evictions€is€attractingÐ ˆØ Ðattention€in€the€country's€press€and€is€aware€of€the€polarization€which€the€issue€is€currently€causingÐ tÄ Ðin€Dominican€society.€€The€Committee€feels€that€it€could€make€a€more€comprehensive€assessmentÐ `° Ðof€the€problem€of€evictions€if€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€Republic€were€to€invite€one€or€twoÐ L œ ÐCommittee€members€to€make€an€òòin€Ô_ÔsituÔ_Ôóó€visit.€€The€Committee€therefore€renews€its€request€to€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐGovernment€to€send€a€two-person€mission€to€the€country€and€recalls€that€this€request€has€alreadyÐ $ t Ðbeen€endorsed€clearly€on€two€occasions€by€the€Economic€and€Social€Council.Ð   ` Ðò òCESCR€€E/1997/22ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ212.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€on€articlesÐ tÄ Ð1€to€15€of€the€Covenant€(E/1990/6/Add.7)€at€its€29òòthóó€and€30òòthóó€meetings€on€19€November€1996€and,Ð `° Ðat€its€50òòthóó€meeting€on€3€December€1996,€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations.Ð L œ ÐÌA.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ $ t ÐÌ213.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€to€the€State€party€for€its€report€and€welcomes€theÐ ü L  Ðappearance€before€it€of€the€Permanent€Representative€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€the€UnitedÐ è 8  ÐNations€Office€at€Geneva.€€The€Committee€notes€with€regret,€however,€that€the€Government€of€theÐ Ô$  ÐState€party€neither€provided€written€replies€to€the€Committee's€list€of€issues€made€available€to€it€inÐ À  ÐJanuary€1996,€nor€sent€an€expert€delegation€to€present€its€report€as€it€had€undertaken€to€do€at€theÐ ¬ü  ÐCommittee's€fourteenth€session€in€May€1996,€when€requesting€the€postponement€of€the€considerationÐ ˜è  Ðof€its€report€to€the€fifteenth€session.€€Consequently,€the€Committee€was€obliged,€in€accordance€withÐ „Ô  Ðits€methods€of€work,€to€consider€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€without€theÐ pÀ Ðbenefit€of€a€dialogue€or€the€participation€of€an€expert€delegation.€€Nevertheless,€the€Committee€notesÐ \¬ Ðthe€statement€by€the€Permanent€Representative€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€the€United€NationsÐ H˜ ÐOffice€at€Geneva€that,€although€she€was€unable€to€take€an€active€part€in€the€Committee'sÐ 4„ Ðdeliberations,€she€would€communicate€to€her€Government€the€principal€additional€subjects€ofÐ  p Ðconcern€identified€by€the€Committee€in€the€course€of€its€discussions.Ð  \ ÐÌ214.€€The€Committee€notes€with€dissatisfaction€that€the€report€submitted€by€the€Government€of€theÐ ä4 ÐState€party€was,€like€the€initial€report,€not€prepared€in€accordance€with€its€revised€guidelinesÐ Ð  Ðregarding€the€form€and€contents€of€reports.€òò7óó/€€It€also€notes€that€information€contained€therein€isÐ ¼  Ðincomplete€and€of€a€purely€legal€nature,€without€any€reference€to€the€situation€concerning€theÐ ¨ø Ðpractical€realization€of€the€rights€set€forth€in€the€Covenant,€and€that€the€suggestions€andÐ ”ä Ðrecommendations€formulated€by€the€Committee€in€the€concluding€observations€adopted€at€itsÐ €Ð Ðeleventh€session€in€1994€òò€8óó/€€have€not€been€addressed€in€the€second€periodic€report.€€It€further€notes,Ð l¼ Ðwith€regret,€the€lack€of€information€of€a€general€character€which€the€State€party€was€supposed€to€haveÐ X ¨ Ðprovided€in€a€core€document,€which€it€has€similarly€failed€to€submit.Ð D!” ÐÌ215.€€The€Committee€feels€that€the€failure€of€the€State€party€to€respond€to€the€list€of€issues€and€toÐ #l! Ðsend€a€delegation€with€competence€to€engage€in€a€dialogue€with€it€at€its€fifteenth€session€shows,€onÐ $X" Ðthe€part€of€the€State€party,€a€consistent€pattern€of€disregard€for€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant€andÐ ô$D # Ðan€unwillingness€to€cooperate€with€the€Committee.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ216.€€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€wishes€to€express€its€gratitude€to€non-governmental€Ð ¸'#& Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÌ__________Ð )à$( ÐÌòòà  à7óó/€€Ibid.€[E/1991/23,€annex€IV.]Ð h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àÌòòà  à8óó/€€See€E/1995/22,€paras.€€309-335.Ð @-(, ЇÌorganizations,€both€national€("Ciudad€Ô_ÔAlternativaÔ_Ô"€and€Ô_ÔCOPADEBAÔ_Ô)€and€international€(HabitatÐ œì ÐInternational€Coalition€and€International€Women's€Rights€Action€Watch),€for€the€detailed€andÐ ˆØ Ðcarefully€documented€information€they€have€made€available€to€it€in€relation€to€the€DominicanÐ tÄ ÐRepublic's€report.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€draws€the€attention€of€the€State€party€to€the€documentÐ `° Ð"The€Dominican€Republic:€An€independent€report€submitted€to€the€UN€Committee€on€Economic,Ð L œ ÐSocial€and€Cultural€Rights€by€the€International€Women's€Rights€Action€Watch".Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌB.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ  ` ÐÌ217.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction,€from€the€information€available€to€it€from€other€sources,Ð è 8  Ðthat€the€Government€has€repealed€Decree€No.€358-91,€the€application€of€which€had€previouslyÐ Ô$  Ðnegatively€affected€the€realization€of€the€right€to€adequate€housing,€and€that€it€has€provided€a€solutionÐ À  Ðto€the€cases€of€eviction€pronounced€under€previous€Governments.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ218.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€information€that€the€Government€has€undertaken€a€thoroughÐ „Ô  Ðreview€of€the€public€health€sector€and€is€preparing€a€reform€of€the€Health€Code.Ð pÀ ÐÌ219.€€The€Committee€further€appreciates€the€attempts€being€made€in€the€Chamber€of€Deputies€toÐ H˜ Ðrecognize€domestic€violence€as€a€public€health€issue€and€thus€to€discourage€gender€violence€as€aÐ 4„ Ðmatter€of€public€policy.Ð  p ÐÌC.€€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantóóÐ øH ÐÌ220.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€slow€pace€of€evolution€towards€democracy€and€the€rule€of€lawÐ Ð  Ðin€the€Dominican€Republic€has€inhibited€the€strengthening€of€democratic€institutions,€theÐ ¼  Ðmodernization€of€the€machinery€of€government€and,€consequently,€the€effective€implementation€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthe€Covenant.Ð ”ä ÐÌ221.€€The€Committee€also€observes€that€economic€difficulties€characterized€by,€òòinter€aliaóó,€anÐ l¼ Ðincreasing€number€of€impoverished€people€(60€to€65€per€cent€of€the€population€live€below€theÐ X ¨ Ðpoverty€line),€a€growing€landless€rural€population,€the€high€level€of€unemployment,€especially€in€theÐ D!” Ðcities,€and€the€persistent€large-scale€emigration€of€skilled€and€semi-skilled€workers€have€had€aÐ 0"€  Ðconstraining€influence€on€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€in€the€Dominican€Republic.Ð #l! ÐÌD.€€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ ô$D # ÐÌ222.€€In€relation€to€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€observes€that€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ Ì&"% Ðhas€done€very€little€to€promote€public€awareness€of€the€rights€set€forth€in€the€Covenant.€€TheÐ ¸'#& ÐCommittee€has€been€informed€that€abuses€by€the€police€and€other€security€services€persist.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ223.€€The€Committee€notes€with€regret€that,€although€in€law€United€Nations€human€rights€treatiesÐ |*Ì%) Ðbecome€part€of€Dominican€law€upon€ratification,€in€practice€the€judiciary€does€not€apply€theseÐ h+¸&* Ðinternational€treaties.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð224.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€about€the€exploitation€of€Haitians€and€theirÐ ° Ðunacceptable€living€conditions€in€the€òòÔ_ÔbateyesÔ_Ôóó.€€In€this€connection,€it€has€no€reason€not€to€accept€theÐ œì Ðveracity€of€various€reports€which€emphasize€the€dire€predicament€of€workers€in€the€òòbateyesóó,Ð ˆØ Ðespecially€women€workers€whose€presence€there€is€not€administratively€recognized€and€whoÐ tÄ Ðtherefore€become€vulnerable€to€extreme€exploitation€(their€wages€are€50€per€cent€lower€than€men's)Ð `° Ðand€are€often€deprived€of€their€rights€and€the€most€basic€health€and€social€services.€€Both€men€andÐ L œ Ðwomen€in€the€òòÔ_ÔbateyesÔ_Ôóó,€as€well€as€Haitian€workers€in€other€sectors€of€the€economy,€live€in€perpetualÐ 8 ˆ Ðinsecurity€and€they€constitute€the€principal€national€group€in€the€Dominican€Republic€who€areÐ $ t Ðsubject€to€deportation€in€inhuman€conditions,€often€at€the€whim€of€employers€who€take€advantageÐ  ` Ðof€the€State's€inaction€to€exploit€the€vulnerability€of€this€group.Ð ü L  ÐÌ225.€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€information€from€various€sources€concerning€the€arbitraryÐ Ô$  Ðconfiscation€of€identity€cards€and€the€illegal€deportation€during€the€1995-1996€presidential€campaignÐ À  Ðof€persons€of€Haitian€origin€born€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€This€information€stresses€theÐ ¬ü  Ðinsecurity€prevailing€with€regard€to€nationality€of€Dominican€citizens€of€Haitian€origin.€€It€thusÐ ˜è  Ðappears€necessary€to€adopt€clear€legislation€on€nationality,€which€would€provide€legal€security€toÐ „Ô  Ðpersons€of€Haitian€origin€born€in€the€Dominican€Republic€and€to€their€children;€require€theÐ pÀ Ðauthorities€to€register€births€without€discrimination;€and€allow€Haitians€to€obtain€DominicanÐ \¬ Ðnationality€through€naturalization€under€the€same€conditions€as€other€foreigners.Ð H˜ ÐÌ226.€€The€Committee€is€informed€that€Black€Dominicans€are€often€subject€to€the€same€arbitraryÐ  p Ðpolice€and€administrative€discrimination€as€temporary€Haitian€workers.€€Groups€representing€BlacksÐ  \ Ðin€the€Dominican€Republic€also€claim€that€the€State€violates€their€cultural€rights€by€allowing€theÐ øH Ðpolice€and€local€communities€to€suppress€Afro-American€or€African-identified€cultural€practices.€Ð ä4 ÐThey€also€assert€that€discrimination€of€this€kind€is€encouraged€at€public€schools€and€by€employersÐ Ð  Ðin€both€the€public€and€private€sectors.Ð ¼  ÐÌ227.€€The€Committee€also€notes€with€concern€that,€according€to€information€received€from€variousÐ ”ä Ðsources,€there€is€no€mechanism€for€lodging€complaints€against€the€arbitrariness€or€corruption€of€someÐ €Ð Ðjudges€and€that€there€is€no€appellate€procedure€for€challenging€the€discriminatory€application€of€aÐ l¼ Ðlaw,€an€executive€decree€or€a€decree€of€a€court.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ228.€€The€Committee€notes€with€great€concern€that€State€expenditures€on€education€and€training€asÐ 0"€  Ða€proportion€of€public€expenditure€are€less€than€half€their€average€in€Latin€America.€€Ð #l! ÐÌ229.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€large-scale€emigration€of€Dominicans€has€been€goingÐ ô$D # Ðon€for€many€years€and€has€had€and€will€continue€to€have€a€harmful€effect€on€the€DominicanÐ à%0!$ Ðeconomy,€since€a€large€number€of€emigrants€are€skilled€workers.€€The€State€party€will€have€to€takeÐ Ì&"% Ðmeasures€in€the€educational€and€socio-economic€fields€to€stem€the€outflow€of€skilled€workers.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ230.€€The€Committee€notes€with€alarm€that,€30€years€after€the€first€industrial€park€was€establishedÐ )à$( Ðin€a€free-trade€zone€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€unacceptable€working€conditions€and€abuses€againstÐ |*Ì%) Ðworkers'€rights€under€articles€6,€7€and€8€of€the€Covenant€persist.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ231.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€inhuman€and€archaic€prison€system,€whereby€membersÐ @-(, Ðof€the€family€of€an€accused€person€who€has€run€away€may€be€imprisoned€without€trial€in€his€placeÐ ° Ðas€a€guarantee€for€the€accused€until€he€surrenders€himself€to€the€prison€authorities;€and€wherebyÐ œì Ðprisoners€are€expected€to€buy€their€own€meals€at€weekends,€when€the€prison€authorities€stopÐ ˆØ Ðproviding€them.Ð tÄ ÐÌ232.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€to€note€the€persistent€rise€of€"sex€tourism"€in€resort€areas,€and€theÐ L œ Ðspread€of€the€HIV/AIDS€virus,€which€is€one€of€the€country's€greatest€health€problems.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ233.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€that€the€enjoyment€by€women€of€economic,€social€andÐ  ` Ðcultural€rights€is€undermined€by,€òòinter€aliaóó:€a€traditional€and€persistent€male-dominated€society;€theÐ ü L  Ðfailure€to€ensure€that€single€women€heads€of€household€benefit€from€the€agrarian€reform€or€theÐ è 8  ÐGovernment's€housing€programme;€the€absence€of€any€administrative€mechanism€that€allows€womenÐ Ô$  Ðto€file€complaints€in€cases€of€discrimination€by€the€Dominican€Agrarian€Institute;€the€failure€of€theÐ À  ÐGovernment€to€protect€women€workers€from€discrimination€and€arbitrary€dismissal€related€toÐ ¬ü  Ðpregnancy,€including€failure€to€discourage€employers€from€the€practice€of€pregnancy€testing;€andÐ ˜è  Ðfailure€to€develop€and€promote€family-planning€services.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that,Ð „Ô  Ðdespite€the€very€high€rate€of€hospital€births€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€the€rate€of€maternal€mortalityÐ pÀ Ðis€unacceptably€high;€and€that€common-law€marriages€are€not€legally€recognized,€although€60€perÐ \¬ Ðcent€of€all€marriages€are€of€this€nature,€the€consequence€being€that,€in€cases€of€separation,Ð H˜ Ðabandonment€or€the€death€of€the€male€breadwinner€of€the€family,€a€woman€frequently€losesÐ 4„ Ðeverything€and€finds€it€difficult€to€acquire€an€identity€card€or€collateral,€without€which€she€cannotÐ  p Ðobtain€agricultural€credit,€housing€or€employment.Ð  \ ÐÌ234.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€voice€its€serious€concern€about€the€continuing€problem€of€violenceÐ ä4 Ðagainst€women€and€the€insufficient€attention€paid€to€the€problem€by€governmental€institutions.Ð Ð  ÐÌ235.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€the€issue€of€limited€access€to€safe€drinking-waterÐ ¨ø Ðfor€the€rural€population€and€those€living€in€deprived€urban€areas,€the€higher€incidence€of€infantÐ ”ä Ðmortality€in€certain€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô-economic€groups,€the€deplorable€situation€of€persons€with€disabilities,€theÐ €Ð Ðprevalence€of€endemic€diseases,€the€inadequacy€of€social€welfare€and€social€security,€the€persistingÐ l¼ Ðhousing€shortage€and€the€inadequacy€of€access€to€health€care.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ236.€€The€Committee€also€calls€attention€to€the€various€concerns€it€has€expressed€to€the€State€partyÐ 0"€  Ðsince€its€fifth€session€in€1990€in€relation€to€the€continuous€violation€of€the€right€to€adequate€housing,Ð #l! Ðand€regrets€that€it€has€received€an€entirely€unsatisfactory€and€inadequate€response€from€the€StateÐ $X" Ðparty€in€this€respect.€€The€Committee€reminds€the€State€party€of€the€significance€it€attaches€to€theÐ ô$D # Ðright€to€adequate€housing€and€thus€to€the€adoption€of€measures€by€the€State€party€to€recognize,Ð à%0!$ Ðrespect,€protect€and€fulfil€that€right.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌE.€€òòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌ237.€€The€Committee€invites€the€State€party€to€confirm€publicly€its€commitment€to€implementing€itsÐ |*Ì%) Ðbinding€human€rights€treaty€obligations.€€It€strongly€calls€upon€the€Government€of€the€State€party€toÐ h+¸&* Ðhonour€its€obligations€under€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,Ð T,¤'+ Ðparticularly€through€maintaining€the€proper€direct€and€constructive€dialogue€with€the€CommitteeÐ @-(, Ðcalled€for€in€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€proposes€to€adopt€finally€its€concluding€observations€inÐ ° Ðrelation€to€the€State€party€at€its€sixteenth€session.€€For€that€reason,€the€Committee€decides€that€theÐ œì Ðpresent€concluding€observations€will€be€considered€"preliminary",€pending€further€consideration€ofÐ ˆØ Ðthe€second€periodic€report€based€on€a€dialogue€with€representatives€of€the€State€party€at€its€sixteenthÐ tÄ Ðsession.Ð `° ÐÌ238.€€In€view€of€the€consistent€failure€of€the€State€party€to€meet€its€reporting€obligations€under€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐCovenant€and€to€respond€to€successive€requests€for€information€made€by€the€Committee€over€aÐ $ t Ðnumber€of€years,€the€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€attach€the€utmost€importance€to€respondingÐ  ` Ðto€the€matters€raised€in€the€present€concluding€observations.Ð ü L  ÐÌ239.€€The€Committee€further€recommends€that€the€State€party€provide€it€with€written€replies€(a)€toÐ Ô$  Ðthe€concluding€observations€adopted€at€its€eleventh€session€in€1994,€òò€9óó/€€in€particular€with€regard€toÐ À  Ðits€request€that€the€State€party€invite€representatives€of€the€Committee€to€visit€the€DominicanÐ ¬ü  ÐRepublic;€(b)€to€the€list€of€issues€drawn€up€in€connection€with€the€second€periodic€reportÐ ˜è  Ð(E/C.12/1995/LQ.7);€(c)€to€information€contained€in€the€document€"The€Dominican€Republic:€AnÐ „Ô  Ðindependent€report€submitted€to€the€United€Nations€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€CulturalÐ pÀ ÐRights€by€the€International€Women's€Rights€Action€Watch".Ð \¬ ÐÌ240.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€submit€the€information€referred€to€in€the€precedingÐ 4„ Ðparagraph€by€15€February€1997€in€order€to€allow€the€Committee€to€consider€it€at€its€sixteenth€session,Ð  p Ðto€be€held€from€28€April€to€16€May€1997.Ð  \ ÐÌ241.€€The€Committee€strongly€recommends€that€the€specific€information€requested€above€beÐ ä4 Ðpresented€to€the€Committee€at€its€sixteenth€session€by€an€expert€delegation.Ð Ð  ÐÌ242.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€disseminate€widely€the€present€concludingÐ ¨ø Ðobservations€adopted€by€the€Committee€following€its€consideration€of€the€State€party's€secondÐ ”ä Ðperiodic€report.Ð €Ð ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ________Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌà  àòò9óó/€Ibid.Ð  T,¤'+ Ðò òCESCR€€E/1998/22ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ197.€€At€its€1òòstóó€meeting€on€28€April€1997,€the€Committee€was€informed€by€a€note€Ô_ÔverbaleÔ_Ô€dated€23Ð tÄ ÐApril€1997€from€the€Permanent€Representative€of€the€Dominican€Republic€to€the€United€NationsÐ `° ÐOffice€at€Geneva€that€the€Government€of€the€Dominican€Republic€had€accepted€the€Committee'sÐ L œ Ðoffer€to€send€two€of€its€members€to€visit€the€country€and€pursue€its€dialogue€with€the€GovernmentÐ 8 ˆ Ðin€relation€to€the€matters€identified€by€the€Committee€at€its€fifth,€seventh,€tenth,€eleventh€andÐ $ t Ðfifteenth€sessions.€€Subsequently,€the€Secretary€of€State€for€Foreign€Affairs€of€the€DominicanÐ  ` ÐRepublic,€by€a€note€verbale€dated€25€April€1997,€confirmed€the€invitation€to€the€Committee€to€visitÐ ü L  Ðthe€country€to€observe€on€site€the€situation€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.Ð è 8  ÐÌ198.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€strong€appreciation€to€the€Government€of€the€DominicanÐ À  ÐRepublic€for€its€willingness€to€cooperate€with€it.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ199.€€Following€its€discussions€relating€to€the€organization€of€the€mission,€the€Committee€agreedÐ „Ô  Ðthat:Ð pÀ ÐÌà  à(a)€€It€would€be€represented€by€two€of€its€members€-€Mr.€Philippe€Ô_ÔTexierÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€JavierÐ H˜ ÐÔ_ÔWimerÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔZambranoÔ_Ô€„€and€assisted€during€the€mission€by€one€staff€member€of€the€Office€of€the€UnitedÐ 4„ ÐNations€High€Commissioner€for€Human€Rights;Ð  p ÐÌà  à(b)€€The€mission€should€take€place€preferably€in€September€1997€and€in€any€event€before€theÐ øH Ðstart€of€the€Committee's€seventeenth€session€(November€1997);Ð ä4 ÐÌà  à(c)€€The€mission€would€focus€primarily€on€matters€relating€to€the€implementation€of€the€rightÐ ¼  Ðto€housing€(art.€€11,€para.€€1,€of€the€Covenant),€and€would€also€take€account€of€the€other€issuesÐ ¨ø Ðidentified€by€the€Committee€in€its€preliminary€concluding€observations€adopted€at€its€fifteenthÐ ”ä Ðsession€in€December€1996€following€its€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€DominicanÐ €Ð ÐRepublic;€€òò8óó/Ð l¼ ÐÌà  à(d)€€The€mission€would€undertake€on„site€visits€and€arrange€meetings€with€the€relevantÐ D!” Ðgovernment€officials,€as€well€as€with€individuals€and€groups€from€all€appropriate€sectors€of€civilÐ 0"€  Ðsociety;Ð #l! ÐÌà  à(e)€€Mr.€Ô_ÔTexierÔ_Ô€would€be€responsible€for€the€preparation,€on€the€basis€of€agreement€with€Mr.Ð ô$D # ÐÔ_ÔWimerÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔZambranoÔ_Ô,€of€a€written€report€and€its€submission€to€the€Committee€at€its€seventeenth€sessionÐ à%0!$ Ðin€November„December€1997.€€That€report€would€be€considered€in€conjunction€with€the€furtherÐ Ì&"% Ðconsideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic;Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  à(f)€€The€draft€mission€report€would€be€considered€by€the€Committee€in€private€session€andÐ )à$( Ðsubsequently€be€adopted€for€public€release;Ð |*Ì%) Ð________Ð h+¸&* ÐÌà  àòò8óó/€€See€E/1997/22,€paras.€212„242.Ð @-(, ЇÌà  à(g)€€Significant€assistance€would€be€required€from€the€Secretariat€in€the€preparation€of€theÐ œì Ðmission,€particularly€in€obtaining€and€analysing€relevant€information.€€The€Secretariat€should€seekÐ ˆØ Ðinputs€from€all€relevant€sources€and€should€specifically€request€any€pertinent€reports€or€otherÐ tÄ Ðinformation€from€UNDP,€the€World€Bank,€the€United€Nations€Centre€for€Human€SettlementsÐ `° Ð(Habitat),€ILO€and€other€such€agencies,€as€well€as€from€non„governmental€organizations.Ð L œ ÐÌòòSeventeenth€sessionóóÐ $ t ÐÌ200.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€on€articlesÐ ü L  Ð1€to€15€of€the€Covenant€(E/1990/6/Add.7)€at€its€29òòthóó€to€31òòstóó€meetings€on€18€and€19€November€1997Ð è 8  Ðand,€at€its€51òòstóó€meeting€on€3€December€1997,€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations.€€òò9óó/Ð Ô$  ÐÌA.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ ¬ü  ÐÌ201.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€resumption€of€the€dialogue€with€the€Dominican€RepublicÐ „Ô  Ðthrough€its€second€periodic€report.€€It€also€welcomes€the€submission€by€the€State€party€ofÐ pÀ Ðcomprehensive€written€replies€to€its€list€of€issues,€although€it€regrets€that€the€second€part€of€thoseÐ \¬ Ðreplies€was€submitted€too€late€for€translation.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€welcomes€the€appearanceÐ H˜ Ðbefore€it€of€an€expert€and€high„level€delegation€from€the€capital,€which€allowed€a€fruitful€andÐ 4„ Ðconstructive€dialogue€to€be€conducted€and€many€answers€and€clarifications€to€be€obtained€inÐ  p Ðresponse€to€questions€and€comments€by€members€of€the€Committee.Ð  \ ÐÌ202.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€express€its€appreciation€to€the€Dominican€Republic€for€itsÐ ä4 Ðacceptance,€in€April€1997,€of€a€mission€composed€of€two€members€of€the€Committee€to€be€conductedÐ Ð  Ðin€the€country,€in€accordance€with€the€offers€made€in€repeated€decisions€by€the€Committee€andÐ ¼  Ðendorsed€by€the€Economic€and€Social€Council€in€its€decisions€1992/261€and€1993/295.€€It€alsoÐ ¨ø Ðexpresses€its€deep€satisfaction€at€the€State€party's€responsiveness€to€and€cooperation€with€the€mission,Ð ”ä Ðwhich€took€place€from€19€to€27€September€1997.€€In€this€respect,€the€Committee€notes€withÐ €Ð Ðappreciation€that€government€officials€at€the€highest€levels€of€the€State,€numerous€non„governmentalÐ l¼ Ðorganizations€and€UNDP€provided€its€delegation€with€technical€and€logistical€assistance,€as€well€asÐ X ¨ Ðwith€valuable€information€on€the€right€€to€housing€and€the€situation€of€Haitian€workers€in€theÐ D!” ÐDominican€Republic,€which€were€the€subjects€identified€by€the€Committee€as€the€missionððs€mandate,Ð 0"€  Ðand€more€generally€on€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant€in€law€and€in€practice.Ð #l! ÐÌB.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ ô$D # ÐÌ203.€€The€independence€and€effective€functioning€of€the€judiciary€are€necessary€elements€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðprotection€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€€Thus,€with€respect€to€the€concerns€it€expressedÐ ¸'#& Ðin€its€preliminary€concluding€observations€(E/1997/22,€para€227),€the€Committee€notes€withÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌ________à ` àà ¸ àà  àòòÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  à9óó/€€The€Committee€had€adopted€preliminary€concluding€observations€following€itsÐ h+¸&* Ðconsideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€the€Dominican€Republic€at€its€fifteenth€session€inÐ T,¤'+ ÐNovember„December€1996€(ibid.).Ð @-(, Ðappreciation€the€measures€taken€to€combat€the€problem€of€corruption€of€public€officials,€includingÐ ° Ðjudges,€and€in€particular€the€increase€in€the€salaries€of€government€officials€and€judges.€€Furthermore,Ð œì Ðthe€Committee€notes€that€the€procedure€for€nominating€judges€to€the€new€Supreme€Court€has€beenÐ ˆØ Ðmade€public€and€transparent,€with€the€objective€of€guaranteeing€the€impartiality€of€the€judiciary€andÐ tÄ Ðits€independence€from€the€executive.Ð `° ÐÌ204.€€The€Committee€also€notes€with€appreciation€that€a€number€of€measures€have€been€taken€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðimprove€the€situation€of€women,€in€particular€measures€allowing€them€to€own€property€and€to€benefitÐ $ t Ðfrom€the€medical€insurance€of€their€partners€in€case€of€de€facto€marriages€and€from€land€distributionÐ  ` Ðin€the€framework€of€the€agrarian€reform.€€The€adoption€of€a€Womenððs€Code€is€also€welcomed,€as€areÐ ü L  Ðthe€activities€and€programmes€of€the€General€Directorate€for€the€Advancement€of€Women.€Ð è 8  ÐFurthermore,€the€Committee€takes€note€of€information€concerning€the€setting€up€of€a€StateÐ Ô$  ÐSecretariat€for€Womenððs€Affairs€and€the€proposed€establishment€of€special€courts€to€deal€specificallyÐ À  Ðwith€matters€involving€violence€against€women€and€children,€including€domestic€violence.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ205.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€a€bilateral€commission€by€the€Governments€ofÐ „Ô  Ðthe€Dominican€Republic€and€Haiti,€as€well€as€the€agreement€signed€with€the€Government€of€HaitiÐ pÀ Ðconcerning€the€granting€of€temporary€work€permits€for€Haitian€seasonal€sugar€cane€cutters€duringÐ \¬ Ðthe€next€harvest,€in€order€to€give€them€a€legal€status€and€protect€them€from€the€exploitation€relatedÐ H˜ Ðto€the€lack€of€such€status.Ð 4„ ÐÌ206.€€With€respect€to€the€right€to€adequate€housing€under€article€11€of€the€Covenant,€the€CommitteeÐ  \ Ðnotes€with€appreciation€the€policy€set€up€and€applied€by€the€new€Government,€which€involves€givingÐ øH Ðpriority€to€low-income€groups€and€carrying€out€housing€projects€in€consultation€with€theÐ ä4 Ðcommunities€concerned.€€The€Committee€notes€that€this€policy€differs€from€previous€governmentÐ Ð  Ðpolicies€which€gave€preference€to€major€ornamental€public€works,€including€the€ColumbusÐ ¼  Ðlighthouse,€which€unnecessarily€caused€the€displacement€of€large€numbers€of€people,€and€to€theÐ ¨ø Ðauthoritarian€planning€of€housing€projects.€€The€Committee€also€notes€with€appreciation€the€holdingÐ ”ä Ðin€1996€of€a€national€conference€for€a€ð ðNew€Policy€for€the€Housing€Sectorðð,€organized€by€theÐ €Ð ÐNational€Housing€Institute€and€UNDP€as€a€follow„up€to€the€United€Nations€Conference€on€HumanÐ l¼ ÐSettlements€(Habitat€II),€as€well€as€the€envisaged€setting„up€of€a€State€Secretariat€for€Housing€toÐ X ¨ Ðcoordinate€all€government€activities€in€the€field€of€housing.Ð D!” ÐÌ207.€€Also€concerning€the€right€to€housing,€the€Committee€notes€among€the€steps€taken€by€theÐ #l! ÐGovernment€in€this€field€the€following:€the€commitment€of€the€Government€to€suspend€all€forcedÐ $X" Ðevictions€by€public€organs€and€to€adopt€a€policy€of€providing€adequate€alternative€housing€to€personsÐ ô$D # Ðevicted€and€displaced€persons;€the€adoption€of€Decree€443/96,€which€repealed€Decree€358/91,€andÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€consequent€removal€of€a€military€presence€from€the€La€Ô_ÔCinagaÔ_Ô€and€Los€Ô_ÔGuandulesÔ_Ô€areas€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðcentre€of€Santo€Domingo;€and€the€signing€of€relocation€agreements€between€the€Government€andÐ ¸'#& Ðsome€681€families€living€in€the€Los€Ô_ÔAlcarrizosÔ_Ô€shanty€town€and€the€209€evicted€families€whoÐ ¤(ô#' Ðoccupied€three€churches€for€a€year.Ð )à$( ÐÌ208.€€With€respect€to€the€concern€expressed€in€its€preliminary€concluding€observations€(E/1997/22,Ð h+¸&* Ðpara.€231)€the€Committee€notes€that€measures€have€been€taken€to€improve€prison€conditions€inÐ T,¤'+ Ðrelation€to€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€including,€the€provision€of€meals€to€inmates€free€ofÐ @-(, Ðcharge€„€including€during€weekends€„€and€the€carrying€out€of€a€prison€reform€programme€withÐ ° Ðparticular€emphasis€on€the€improvement€of€the€regime€governing€visits€and€on€rehabilitation€throughÐ œì Ðeducation€programmes.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ209.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€new€emphasis€which€the€new€Government€hasÐ `° Ðplaced€on€education€by€increasing,€by€14.5€per€cent,€the€budget€allocation€to€education€in€1996.€€ItÐ L œ Ðalso€notes€that€measures€have€been€taken€to€improve€the€level€of€education€in€public€schools€byÐ 8 ˆ Ðincreasing€teachersðð€salaries.Ð $ t ÐÌC.€€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantóóÐ ü L  ÐÌ210.€€The€Committee,€recalling€its€preliminary€concluding€observations€concerning€the€slowÐ Ô$  Ðevolution€towards€democracy€(ibid.,€para.€€220),€notes€that€positive€and€concrete€steps€have€recentlyÐ À  Ðbeen€taken€to€strengthen€democratic€institutions€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€However,€it€notes€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€consequences€of€decades€of€neglect€or€ineffective€promotion€and€protection€by€previousÐ ˜è  ÐGovernments€of€the€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€of€the€population€as€a€whole,€and€those€ofÐ „Ô  Ðvulnerable€groups€in€particular,€cannot€easily€be€overcome.€€The€Committee€acknowledges€that€theseÐ pÀ Ðfactors€continue€to€constitute€impediments€to€the€full€implementation€of€the€rights€enshrined€in€theÐ \¬ ÐCovenant.Ð H˜ ÐÌ211.€€The€Committee€also€notes€that,€since€the€mid„1980s,€the€economic€situation€in€the€DominicanÐ  p ÐRepublic€has€deteriorated€at€a€rapid€pace,€mainly€because€of€the€deficient€management€of€theÐ  \ Ðcountryððs€economy€and€of€the€public€finances€by€the€previous€administration.€€The€consequences€ofÐ øH Ðthis€deterioration€include€the€heavy€burden€of€external€debt€on€the€national€economy,€the€need€forÐ ä4 Ðstructural€adjustment€programmes,€the€high€rate€of€inflation,€large-scale€emigration€of€skilledÐ Ð  Ðworkers,€growing€poverty,€unequal€distribution€of€wealth€within€the€population€and€the€deepeningÐ ¼  Ðgap€between€the€rich€and€the€poor.€€Such€a€situation€creates€difficulties€which€hinder€the€fullÐ ¨ø Ðimplementation€of€the€Covenant€in€the€Dominican€Republic.Ð ”ä ÐÌD.€€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ l¼ ÐÌ212.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€regret€at€the€absence€of€statistical€information€on€the€economic,Ð D!” Ðsocial€and€cultural€situation€in€the€Dominican€Republic€both€in€the€State€party's€report€and€in€theÐ 0"€  Ðdialogue€with€the€delegation.€€The€Committee€notes€that€such€information€is€not€only€useful€butÐ #l! Ðnecessary€for€it€to€assess€the€real€situation€of€implementation,€with€regard€to€all€groups€in€society,Ð $X" Ðof€the€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€enshrined€in€the€Covenant.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ213.€€The€Committee€notes€the€presence€of€racial€discrimination€in€the€Dominican€Republic,Ð Ì&"% Ðalthough€this€seems€to€be€denied€by€the€authorities,€and€it€emphasizes€that,€in€order€to€combat€andÐ ¸'#& Ðprevent€racial€discrimination€in€the€enjoyment€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€its€existenceÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmust€be€recognized€by€the€authorities.€€The€Committee€stresses€that,€without€such€recognition,€noÐ )à$( Ðeffective€anti„discrimination€policies€can€be€put€in€place.€€In€this€respect,€the€Committee€expressesÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€view€that€the€existence€of€racial€discrimination€does€not€necessarily€entail€institutionalized€orÐ h+¸&* Ðlegal€discrimination.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð214.€€While€noting€that€a€number€of€positive€measures€have€been€taken€by€the€authorities€to€promoteÐ ° Ðgender€equality€and€to€protect€women€from€discrimination,€the€Committee€remains€concerned€thatÐ œì Ðwomen€do€not€fully€enjoy€their€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€under€the€Covenant.€€In€thisÐ ˆØ Ðrespect,€the€Committee€reiterates€the€concerns€it€expressed€in€its€preliminary€concluding€observationsÐ tÄ Ð(ibid.,€para.€233),€with€particular€reference€to€the€persistence€of€a€traditional€male-dominated€societyÐ `° Ðdetrimental€to€gender€equality,€to€the€lack€of€protection€afforded€to€women€workers€who€are€victimsÐ L œ Ðof€discrimination€in€employment€or€arbitrary€dismissal€owing€to€pregnancy,€to€the€lack€of€family„Ð 8 ˆ Ðplanning€services,€to€the€high€maternal€mortality€rate,€to€unequal€pay€between€women€and€men,€andÐ $ t Ðto€the€absence€of€legal€recognition€of€de€facto€marriages.Ð  ` ÐÌ215.€€The€Committee€recalls€the€concerns€it€expressed€in€1996€(ibid.,€para.€229)€with€respect€to€theÐ è 8  Ðlarge„scale€emigration€of€Dominicans,€many€of€whom€are€skilled€workers,€and€notes€that€improvedÐ Ô$  Ðenjoyment€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€can€help€to€reduce€incentives€for€such€people€toÐ À  Ðemigrate.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ216.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€is€still€preoccupied€by€the€situation€of€Haitian€illegal€workers€andÐ „Ô  Ðby€the€situation€of€their€children.€€It€notes€that€approximately€500,000„600,000€Haitian€illegalÐ pÀ Ðworkers€reside€in€the€Dominican€Republic,€some€of€them€for€one€or€two€generations,€without€anyÐ \¬ Ðlegal€status€and€any€protection€of€their€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€€In€this€respect,€theÐ H˜ ÐCommittee€is€particularly€concerned€about€the€situation€of€the€children,€who,€due€to€the€restrictiveÐ 4„ Ðinterpretation€of€article€11€of€the€Constitution€by€the€authorities,€do€not€receive€DominicanÐ  p Ðnationality€on€the€grounds€that€they€are€children€born€of€foreigners€in€transit.€€These€children€are€thusÐ  \ Ðdenied€their€most€basic€social€rights,€such€as€the€rights€to€education€and€health€care.€€Moreover,€theÐ øH ÐCommittee€notes€with€concern€that,€until€now,€measures€have€not€been€taken€to€improve€the€overallÐ ä4 Ðsituation€of€Haitian€illegal€workers€by€regularizing€their€status€and€that€of€their€children.Ð Ð  ÐÌ217.€€The€Committee€also€reiterates€its€concerns€about€the€inadequate€living€conditions€in€the€sugarÐ ¨ø Ðcane€plantations€(òòÔ_ÔbateyesÔ_Ôóó)€(ibid.,€para.€224),€and€the€inadequacy€of€the€measures€taken€to€date€by€theÐ ”ä Ðauthorities€to€remedy€the€situation.Ð €Ð ÐÌ218.€€The€Committee€notes€that,€despite€the€recent€steps€taken€to€raise€the€minimum€wage€in€theÐ X ¨ Ðlatest€Labour€Management€Agreement,€the€minimum€wage€is€not€yet€sufficient€to€ensure€a€decentÐ D!” Ðliving€for€workers€and€their€families,€in€accordance€with€article€7€(a)€(ii)€of€the€Covenant.Ð 0"€  ÐÌ219.€€The€Committee€further€expresses€concern€about€reports€of€extremely€unsatisfactory€workingÐ $X" Ðconditions€in€the€free„trade€zones.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€workers€in€the€free„trade€zonesÐ ô$D # Ðare€allegedly€discouraged€from€joining€or€forming€trade€unions€and€that€the€regulations€concerningÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€right€to€strike€in€the€Labour€Code€are€not€complied€with€by€employers.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ220.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that,€at€present,€the€national€social€security€scheme€coversÐ ¤(ô#' Ðonly€workers€employed€in€the€formal€sector.€€Although€it€notes€that€new€legislation€on€social€securityÐ )à$( Ðwhich€provides€for€universal€coverage€is€under€study,€the€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðnon„application€of€article€9€of€the€Covenant€to€self„employed€workers,€including€small€farmers,€andÐ h+¸&* Ðtheir€families.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð221.€€With€respect€to€article€10€of€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€theÐ ° Ðsituation€of€children€in€the€Dominican€Republic€and,€in€particular,€about€reports€received€on€theÐ œì Ðoccurrence€of€child€labour€and€child€exploitation,€including€sexual€exploitation,€about€the€increasingÐ ˆØ Ðnumber€of€street€children,€the€low€rate€of€school€enrolment,€the€high€rate€of€infant€mortality€and€theÐ tÄ Ðhigh€number€of€pregnancies€among€school-age€females.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€expresses€itsÐ `° Ðconcern€about€the€reported€prevalence€of€violence€against€women€and€children€within€the€family.Ð L œ ÐÌ222.€€Although€the€Committee€welcomes€the€drafting€of€a€plan€by€the€National€Council€for€UrbanÐ $ t ÐAffairs€to€ensure€access€to€safe€drinking€water,€it€notes€that€the€plan€is€limited€to€urban€areas€and€thatÐ  ` Ðmuch€remains€to€be€done€in€order€to€ensure€such€access€for€the€rural€population€and€for€all€thoseÐ ü L  Ðliving€in€deprived€urban€areas.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€recalls€the€concerns€it€expressed€in€theÐ è 8  Ðpast€(ibid.,€para.€235).Ð Ô$  ÐÌ223.€€With€respect€to€the€right€to€housing,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€positive€measures€andÐ ¬ü  Ðprogrammes€undertaken€by€the€Government€may€be€hampered€by€a€lack€of€resources€allocated€byÐ ˜è  Ðthe€authorities€at€the€national€and€local€levels€to€alleviate€the€many€problems€associated€with€the€lackÐ „Ô  Ðof€housing;€by€the€dispersion€of€the€many€organs€and€institutions€set€up€to€deal€with€housing€and€theÐ pÀ Ðlack€of€coordination€between€them;€by€the€failure€of€the€central€authorities€to€delegate€more€powersÐ \¬ Ðto€local€communities;€and€by€the€priority€and€preference€given€to€the€alleviation€of€the€problems€inÐ H˜ Ðurban€areas€to€the€detriment€of€rural€areas.Ð 4„ ÐÌ224.€€With€respect€to€the€agrarian€reform€and€the€distribution€of€urban€and€rural€lands,€the€CommitteeÐ  \ Ðexpresses€regret€at€the€lack€of€information€concerning€land€survey,€delivery€of€land€titles€and€landÐ øH Ðallocation.€€While€noting€the€information€that€the€agrarian€reform€is€supported€by€the€Ministry€ofÐ ä4 ÐAgriculture€and€the€Agricultural€Bank,€it€is€concerned€about€the€lack€of€progress€to€date€in€thisÐ Ð  Ðrespect€owing€to€delays€in€the€completion€of€the€land€survey.Ð ¼  ÐÌ225.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€notes€that€forced€evictions€from€private€land€still€occur,€and€thatÐ ”ä Ðthe€authorities€have€not€yet€taken€the€necessary€measures€to€address€this€problem.Ð €Ð ÐÌ226.€€With€respect€to€the€right€to€health€under€article€12€of€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€is€concernedÐ X ¨ Ðabout€the€lack€of€information€on€the€situation€of€the€elderly,€disabled€persons,€and€HIV„positiveÐ D!” Ðpersons€and€persons€with€AIDS.€€With€respect€to€the€latter,€the€Committee€notes€that,€according€toÐ 0"€  Ðthe€WHO€the€number€of€AIDS€cases€has€increased€from€133€in€1993€to€574€in€1996€for€women€andÐ #l! Ðfrom€256€in€1993€to€1,050€in€1996€for€men.€€The€Committee€also€notes€that€prevention€campaignsÐ $X" Ðcarried€out€in€the€Dominican€Republic€are€insufficient€in€addressing€the€appropriate€ways€and€meansÐ ô$D # Ðavailable€to€combat€the€transmission€of€the€virus.€€It€further€notes€the€persistence€of€sex€tourism€inÐ à%0!$ Ðresort€areas,€sometimes€involving€minors,€which€is€one€of€the€causes€of€the€spread€of€AIDS,€althoughÐ Ì&"% Ðit€recognizes€that€coercive€measures€have€been€taken€by€the€authorities€against€persons€involved€asÐ ¸'#& Ðlocal€agents€in€such€exploitation.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌE.€€òòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ |*Ì%) ÐÌ227.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€measures€be€taken€by€the€authorities,€notably€at€the€fiscal€andÐ T,¤'+ Ðsocial€levels,€to€address€the€problem€of€the€inequitable€distribution€of€wealth€among€the€populationÐ @-(, Ðin€order€to€combat€poverty.Ð ° ÐÌ228.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€measures€to€combat€the€arbitrariness€and€corruption€of€someÐ ˆØ Ðjudges€and€public€officials€(see€para.€203€above)€be€pursued.€€In€particular,€the€CommitteeÐ tÄ Ðrecommends€that€information€on€the€means€available,€if€any,€to€challenge€the€discriminatory,Ð `° Ðarbitrary€and€unjust€application€of€a€law,€an€executive€decree€or€a€court€decree€be€provided€in€theÐ L œ ÐState€partyððs€next€periodic€report.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ229.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€measures€be€taken€to€gather€systematically€quantitative€andÐ  ` Ðqualitative€data,€Ô_ÔdisaggregatedÔ_Ô€in€accordance€with€the€criteria€used€by€the€United€Nations€and€itsÐ ü L  Ðspecialized€agencies,€on€all€rights€covered€by€the€Covenant.€€In€this€regard,€it€suggests€thatÐ è 8  Ðcooperation€be€requested€from€various€agencies,€such€as€UNDP,€WHO,€ILO€and€UNICEF,€with€aÐ Ô$  Ðview€to€assessing€and€evaluating€progress€achieved,€identifying€prevailing€difficulties€and€settingÐ À  Ðpriorities€for€future€action.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ230.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€concrete€and€appropriate€measures€be€taken,€such€asÐ „Ô  Ðinformation€and€education€campaigns€and€the€reform€of€the€criminal€law,€in€order€to€penalize€actsÐ pÀ Ðof€racial€discrimination€by€public€officials€and€private€persons,€and€to€prevent€and€combat€such€acts.Ð \¬ ÐÌ231.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€pursue€its€policies€designed€to€achieve€fullÐ 4„ Ðequality€between€men€and€women,€in€all€areas€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€life.€€In€particular,Ð  p Ða€thorough€review€of€domestic€legislation€should€be€undertaken€with€a€view€to€eliminating€anyÐ  \ Ðremaining€discriminatory€legal€provisions,€especially€with€respect€to€the€labour,€family,€criminal,Ð øH Ðcivil€and€social€security€laws;€specific€remedies€should€be€made€available€to€women€victims€ofÐ ä4 Ðsexual€discrimination;€and€information€and€education€campaigns€should€be€carried€out.€€PositiveÐ Ð  Ðmeasures€should€also€be€taken€to€promote€the€participation€of€women,€on€an€equal€basis€with€men,Ð ¼  Ðin€public€life,€on€the€labour€market€and€in€social€and€cultural€activities.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ232.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€effective€measures€at€the€educational€andÐ €Ð ÐÔ_ÔsocioÔ_Ô-economic€levels€in€order€to€fulfil€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant,€with€a€view€to€stemmingÐ l¼ Ðthe€outflow€of€skilled€workers€from€the€Dominican€Republic.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ233.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€all€necessary€measures€to€ensure€that€HaitianÐ 0"€  Ðillegal€immigrants€in€the€Dominican€Republic€enjoy€their€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€fullyÐ #l! Ðand€without€discrimination.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€expresses€the€view€that€the€regularizationÐ $X" Ðof€the€situation€of€these€illegal€residents,€through€the€delivery€of€residence€permits€or€naturalization,Ð ô$D # Ðis€necessary.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€principle€of€òòjus€solióó€under€article€11Ð à%0!$ Ðof€the€Constitution€be€applied€to€the€children€of€Haitian€residents€without€delay.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ234.€€The€Committee€also€urges€the€Government€to€adopt€positive€measures€to€improve€livingÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconditions€in€the€òòÔ_ÔbateyesÔ_Ôóó.€€To€this€end,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€legal€status€of€theÐ )à$( Ðòòbateyesóó€be€modified€and€their€relationships€with€municipalities€improved,€and€that€sugar€caneÐ |*Ì%) Ðcompanies€be€required€to€provide€inhabitants€of€the€òòbateyesóó€with€basic€facilities,€such€as€water€andÐ h+¸&* Ðelectricity,€and€with€health€and€social€services.Ð T,¤'+ Ðà  àÐ @-(, Ð235.€€With€respect€to€the€State€partyððs€obligations€under€article€7€(a)€(ii)€of€the€Covenant,€theÐ ° ÐCommittee€recommends€that€the€minimum€wage€be€reviewed€without€delay€and€be€periodicallyÐ œì Ðadjusted€in€order€to€provide€workers€with€a€ð ðdecent€living€for€themselves€and€their€families€inÐ ˆØ Ðaccordance€with€the€provisions€of€the€...€€Covenantðð.€€It€also€recommends€that€all€sectors€of€activityÐ tÄ Ðbe€covered€by€the€regulation€of€the€minimum€wage,€including€the€sugar€cane€industry,€and€thatÐ `° Ðinspection€mechanisms€be€set€up€and€given€the€means€to€conduct€surveys€in€this€area.Ð L œ ÐÌ236.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€workers€in€the€free„trade€zones€be€allowed€to€form€and€joinÐ $ t Ðtrade€unions,€that€their€right€to€strike€be€acknowledged,€that€the€minimum€standards€with€regard€toÐ  ` Ðworking€conditions€be€respected,€and€that€inspection€mechanisms€be€set€up€with€full€freedom€to€carryÐ ü L  Ðout€their€tasks€in€these€zones.Ð è 8  ÐÌ237.€€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€continue€its€review€of€the€Social€Security€Law€and,Ð À  Ðin€this€respect,€it€lays€emphasis€on€the€obligation€of€universal€coverage€under€article€9€of€theÐ ¬ü  ÐCovenant.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ238.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€situation€of€children€in€the€Dominican€Republic€beÐ pÀ Ðclosely€monitored€by€the€authorities,€and€that€all€necessary€means€be€deployed€to€ensure€that€allÐ \¬ Ðchildren€fully€enjoy€their€rights€under€the€Covenant,€special€attention€being€given€to€abandonedÐ H˜ Ðchildren,€street€children,€exploited€children,€working€children€and€teenage€mothers.€€The€CommitteeÐ 4„ Ðalso€recommends€that€the€necessary€measures€be€taken€to€combat€violence€against€women€andÐ  p Ðchildren€in€the€family.Ð  \ ÐÌ239.€€The€Committee€calls€upon€the€Government€to€pursue€and€intensify€its€efforts€to€ensure€that€safeÐ ä4 Ðdrinking€water€is€made€available€to€the€rural€population€and€all€those€living€in€deprived€urban€areas.Ð Ð  ÐÌ240.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Governmentððs€efforts€be€pursued€and€intensified€in€orderÐ ¨ø Ðfully€and€effectively€to€address€the€problems€related€to€housing€in€the€Dominican€Republic.€€In€thisÐ ”ä Ðrespect,€the€Committee€stresses€the€need€for€increased€resources,€both€for€construction€andÐ €Ð Ðrehabilitation€and€for€the€relocation€of€evicted€and€displaced€communities;€for€decentralization€andÐ l¼ Ðgreater€autonomy€of€local€authorities€in€this€field;€and€for€effective€coordination€of€the€activitiesÐ X ¨ Ðundertaken€by€all€the€competent€organs.€€The€Committee€also€draws€the€attention€of€the€GovernmentÐ D!” Ðto€the€need€to€complete€the€process€of€land€surveys€in€order€to€issue€title€deeds€to€regularize€theÐ 0"€  Ðownership€of€land€by€much€of€the€population,€in€rural€as€well€as€urban€areas.€€In€this€regard,€theÐ #l! ÐCommittee€encourages€action€to€set€up€the€State€Secretariat€for€Housing,€in€order€to€ensure€theÐ $X" Ðeffective€coordination€of€the€agencies€concerned€and€the€implementation€of€housing€policies.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ241.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€steps€be€taken€without€delay€to€protect€the€population€fromÐ Ì&"% Ðforced€evictions€by€private€owners€and€that,€in€this€respect,€the€Committeeððs€General€Comment€No.€Ð ¸'#& Ð7€(1997)€(see€annex€IV)€be€duly€taken€into€account.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ242.€€The€Committee€draws€the€attention€of€the€State€party€to€the€report€on€its€technical€assistanceÐ |*Ì%) Ðmission€to€the€Dominican€Republic,€adopted€by€the€Committee€on€3€December€1997€(see€annex€VI).€Ð h+¸&* ÐThe€report€focuses€especially€on€the€right€to€housing,€as€well€as€on€other€matters.€€The€CommitteeÐ T,¤'+ Ðcalls€upon€the€State€party€to€take€the€recommendations€contained€therein€fully€into€account.Ð @-(, ЇÌ243.€€With€respect€to€the€right€to€health,€the€Committee€recommends€that€full€and€concreteÐ œì Ðinformation€on€the€situation€of€the€elderly,€persons€with€disabilities,€and€persons€who€are€HIV„Ð ˆØ Ðpositive€or€have€AIDS€be€provided€in€the€State€partyððs€next€periodic€report.€€With€regard€to€AIDS,Ð tÄ Ðthe€Committee€stresses€the€need€for€the€State€party€to€adopt€adequate€new€legislative€and€socialÐ `° Ðmeasures.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€recommends€the€launching€of€a€specific€and€explicitÐ L œ Ðinformation€campaign€on€HIV/AIDS,€its€causes€and€prevention€measures.€€The€Committee€suggestsÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€coordination€with€WHO€and€the€Joint€United€Nations€Programme€on€HIV/AIDS€(UNAIDS)€beÐ $ t Ðset€up.Ð  ` ÐÌ244.€€Finally,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€concerns€expressed€in€the€present€concludingÐ è 8  Ðobservations,€as€well€as€the€issues€raised€during€the€discussion€of€the€second€periodic€report€whichÐ Ô$  Ðremained€unanswered,€be€addressed€in€the€State€partyððs€third€periodic€report,€to€be€submitted€by€30Ð À  ÐJune€1999.€€It€urges€the€State€party€to€disseminate€widely€the€present€concluding€observationsÐ ¬ü  Ðadopted€by€the€Committee€following€its€consideration€of€the€State€partyððs€second€periodic€report.Ð ˜è  Ð