’WPCK l†‘½f1‡”8%­•„ Q¾}“]ßą’q·UYO˜|ˆrö„Å5%dŻæ‰x!³“vüYÓĻ©ģ‰Zõ£ DBņ–ź O 6Üńļ]-|ßź:eš˜kóól/—©k(–×2ļż,ν#~BČę‚DtV%[\tk=æFUcĮ‚3ŲŖMC;^ńP sA“ ü·Ńłp-€ā@ģŚK>xā¤@ʳ÷p2ŻoĢC’mysĮ“@PõĆŁgż ī9[‚ž‹xöw$h vƒ¼påo;lė$ŁśKŅGń7Ł‹÷ÖS/ܨĤˆc÷ŪW=pāłÅ¹łæÉ!Ź„w(­"»µę ķŅāF„ü0u†]óĮ]ū[¹Āƒ_t6ä7jĀżą4Ań©“8œMēēģžo•,Ūäļ9nź”ąÕ4,=“«‘ąµŲožóiļŁlńJļµ!Qk_­J!„ĄäŠéī Ö8˜‰Ż'C'ēz”ĘFó£bœ›fBPā÷h½šŅų!½bĖSƀßMFŻŽDīŲ™ēśf”!Óz>E d†ż¾­Ÿ!X‚·–t<ÆM³<0ā>NŁ…*‘oĻåÉĶ˄ӹKŲ›ĻO{­Ļ‘ŹČĢŌ~Āx2ŸrRš’ x #ĮØUNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,C˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō*…S) Č­F) ““Ÿ œ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ€¼lH»XXŌņ ņECUADORŠ ° ŠĢĢÓ  ÓŌ€X?ĘX»¼lHŌCESCR€E/1991/23ó óŠ ć3 ŠĢĢÓ  Ó130.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€reports€of€Ecuador€concerning€the€rights€covered€byŠ Ÿ ļ Šarticles€10€to€12€(E/1986/3/Add.14)€and€13€to€15€(E/1988/5/Add.7)€of€the€Covenant€at€its€37ņņthóó€to€39ņņthóóŠ ˆ Ų Šand€42ņņndóó€meetings,€held€from€4€to€6€December€1990€(E/C.12/1990/SR.37„39€and€42).Š q Į ŠĢ131.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€introduced€the€reports,€and€drew€attention€to€the€fact€thatŠ C“  ŠEcuador€was€the€most€densely€populated€country€in€South€America€and€had€one€of€the€mostŠ ,|  Šintensive€internal€migrations€in€the€developing€world,€resulting€from€problems€in€rural€areas€relatedŠ e  Što€the€structure€of€agriculture.€€Economic€growth,€resulting€from€factors€including€the€external€debtŠ žN  Šproblem,€a€trade€imbalance,€a€drop€in€oil€prices€and€decreased€earnings€from€exports€of€cocoa,€riceŠ ē7  Šand€bananas,€had€declined.€€Through€a€process€of€regional€integration€and€trade€liberalization,€theŠ Š  ŠAndean€Group€was€co„operating€on€problems€in€the€field€of€education,€health€and€migration.€Š ¹  ŠUNDP,€UNICEF€and€UNESCO€had€also€provided€valuable€help.€€At€a€recent€Latin€AmericanŠ ¢ņ Šconference€held€in€Quito€a€plan€of€action€to€combat€poverty€had€been€drawn€up.€€More€than€50€perŠ ‹Ū Šcent€of€the€population€of€Ecuador€lived€below€the€poverty„line.€€Full€economic€development€couldŠ tÄ Šonly€be€attained€if€the€gap€between€North€and€South€and€between€the€various€segments€of€societyŠ ]­ Šwas€eliminated.Š F– ŠĢņņGeneral€mattersóóŠ h ŠĢ132.€€As€regards€the€general€framework€in€which€the€Covenant€was€being€implemented,€membersŠ ź: Šrequested€information€about€the€amount€and€percentage€that€international€co„operation€constitutedŠ Ó# Šwithin€the€GNP;€what€limitations€were€imposed€on€the€exercise€of€the€rights€established€in€articlesŠ ¼  Š10€to€12€and€the€reasons€therefore€and€whether€violations€of€these€rights€had€occurred;€whatŠ „õ Šprogrammes€were€being€carried€out€for€the€promotion€of€the€rights€recognized€in€the€Covenant€usingŠ ŽŽ ŠODA€or€international€co„operation;€how€aliens€were€guaranteed€protection€of€the€rights€covered€byŠ w Ē Šarticles€10€to€13€and€how€the€indigenous€population€benefited€from€the€rights€established€in€articlesŠ `!° Š10€to€15.Š I"™  ŠĢ133.€€The€representative€of€ILO€informed€the€Committee€of€the€relevant€ILO€conventions€that€hadŠ $k" Šbeen€ratified€by€Ecuador€as€well€as€of€the€relevant€conclusions€and€recommendations€of€theŠ %T # ŠCommittee€of€Experts€on€the€Application€of€Conventions€and€Recommendations.Š ķ%=!$ ŠĢ134.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€know€whether€the€Covenant€was€directly€applicableŠ æ'#& Šand€whether€individuals€could€initiate€legal€proceedings€to€obtain€the€application€of€constitutionalŠ Ø(ų#' Šguarantees;€what€was€the€percentage€of€the€indigenous€population€in€Ecuador;€what€criteria€wereŠ ‘)į$( Šapplied€in€determining€whether€a€person€belonged€to€an€indigenous€group;€what€the€GovernmentŠ z*Ź%) Špolicy€was€with€regard€to€the€use€of€different€indigenous€languages;€what€measures€had€been€takenŠ c+³&* Što€consult€with€the€local€populations;€what€internal€mechanisms€were€designed€to€make€use€of€ODAŠ L,œ'+ Šand€international€co„operation,€and€what€was€the€development€of€the€rate€of€inflation€in€recent€years;Š 5-…(, Šwith€regard€to€the€internal€peace€of€the€country,€information€was€requested€regarding€the€movementŠ ° Šš šAlfaro€Vive€Carajošš.Š ™é ŠĢ135.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€drawing€attention€to€the€current€reverse€transferŠ k» Šof€resources,€the€general€instability€of€all€commodity€prices€and€rising€inflation,€said€that€it€wasŠ T¤ Šimpossible€to€regard€international€co„operations€as€constituting€a€substantial€element€of€the€GNP.€Š =  ŠAt€best,€such€co„operation€had€amounted€to€0.5€per€cent€and€at€worst€to€0.3€per€cent€of€GNP€and€theŠ & v Šdevelopment€investment€rate€was€now€at€12€per€cent.€€With€regard€to€the€protection€of€the€rights€ofŠ  _ Šaliens,€he€said€that€Ecuadorian€legislation€did€not€discriminate€between€aliens€and€Ecuadorians.€€HeŠ ų H Šsaid€that€although€the€problems€of€the€indigenous€people,€who€comprised€30€per€cent€of€theŠ į 1  ŠEcuadorian€population,€still€persisted,€there€had€been€a€change€of€attitude€and€their€rights€were€nowŠ Ź   Šrecognized.€€The€President€had€set€up€a€Commission€of€Indigenous€Affairs€which€met€weekly€withŠ ³  Šindigenous€organizations.€€Considerable€resources€had€been€allotted€in€rural€areas€to€infrastructure,Š œģ  Širrigation€systems€and€flood€control€works,€electrification,€and€the€provision€of€drinking€water.€€WithŠ …Õ  Šregard€to€education,€he€drew€the€attention€to€the€introduction€of€bilingual€cultural€programmes.€€TheŠ n¾  Šcoverage€of€the€social€security€system€was€also€being€constantly€extended.€€Education€and€popularŠ W§  Šparticipation€were€essential€in€order€to€achieve€integrated€rural€development.€€Responding€to€theŠ @ Šquestion€concerning€the€exercise€and€violations€of€the€rights€in€articles€10€to€12€of€the€Covenant,€theŠ )y Šrepresentative€noted€that€current€social€conditions€were€such€as€to€impose€all€sorts€of€limitations€onŠ b Šhuman€rights,€particularly€those€of€women€and€children,€and€that€it€was€impossible€to€solve€socialŠ ūK Šproblems€through€legislation.€€There€was€a€need€for€improvement€in€the€transfer€of€resources,€as€wellŠ ä4 Šas€a€need€for€a€shift€in€emphasis€from€the€mechanisms€of€the€free€market€to€a€long„term€economicŠ Ķ Šstrategy.Š ¶ ŠĢ136.€€In€reply€to€other€questions,€the€representative€explained€that€inflation€was€due€mainly€to€theŠ ˆŲ Šflow€of€petrodollars,€which€was€causing€financial€instability,€and€to€several€natural€disasters.€€A€highŠ qĮ Šrate€of€inflation€was€avoided€through€a€resolute€structural€adjustment€policy.€€However,€the€currentŠ ZŖ Špolicy€of€trade€liberalization€and€the€closing€down€of€unprofitable€industries€had€serious€socialŠ C“ Šconsequences,€such€as€increased€unemployment€and€crime€rates.€€With€regard€to€the€indigenousŠ ,| Špopulation,€out€of€a€total€population€of€about€10€million€inhabitants,€about€1€million€belonged€toŠ e Šindigenous€groups;€the€Government€followed€a€policy€of€avoiding€any€discrimination€but€someŠ žN Šdiscrimination€did€persist€and€efforts€were€being€made€to€eliminate€it.€€The€focal€point€for€co„Š ē 7 Šordinating€international€assistance€was€the€Committee€for€the€Co„ordination€of€InternationalŠ Š!   ŠAssistance.Š ¹" ! ŠĢņņArticle€10:€Protection€of€the€family,€mothers€and€childrenóóŠ ‹$Ū# ŠĢ137.€€Members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€was€the€percentage€of€the€populationŠ ]&­!% Šprotected€by€social€security,€both€by€age€and€sex,€as€well€as€the€percentage€of€pregnant€womenŠ F'–"& Šreceiving€assistance€through€the€social€security€scheme€and€from€the€Ministry€of€Public€Health.€€ItŠ /(#' Šwas€also€asked€what€measures€of€family€protection€were€available,€apart€from€cash€benefits€forŠ )h$( Špregnant€women€and€allowances€for€minors.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€how€it€was€ensured€thatŠ *Q%) Šthe€benefits€of€mother€and€child€care€reached€women€working€in€the€informal€sector€of€the€economyŠ ź*:&* Šas€well€as€women€living€in€indigenous€communities;€what€working€regulations€applied€to€domesticŠ Ó+#'+ Šservice€and€how€they€differ€from€the€general€rgime;€what€laws€and€regulations€governed€abortion;Š ¼, (, Šwhat€was€the€percentage€of€working€minors€below€the€minimum€legal€age;€what€special€measuresŠ „-õ(- Šhad€been€taken€to€reduce€the€number€of€abandoned€children€and€to€protect€minors€from€economicŠ ° Šexploitation€and€ill„treatment;€what€penalties€were€imposed€for€violations€of€the€provisions€relatingŠ ™é Što€the€working€conditions€of€women€and€minors;€what€special€measures€were€taken€for€the€care€andŠ ‚Ņ Šeducation€of€handicapped€children€and€juvenile€delinquents;€how€serious€was€the€problem€ofŠ k» Šjuvenile€drug€addiction;€and€whether€Government€programmes€existed€for€the€care€of€juvenile€drugŠ T¤ Šaddicts.€€Members€also€requested€statistical€data€concerning€working€children€and€teenagers€and€theŠ =  Štype€of€work€they€did.Š & v ŠĢ138.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€courts€existed€for€minors;€whether€divorceŠ ų H Šby€mutual€consent€existed;€what€conditions€governed€the€invalidity€of€marriages;€what€was€the€rateŠ į 1  Šoff€divorce€as€compared€to€the€number€of€marriages€and€what€trends€could€be€discerned€in€that€field;Š Ź   Šwhat€rules€applied€to€the€exercise€of€parental€authority€in€case€of€divorce;€whether€birth€control€wasŠ ³  Šencouraged€or€forbidden€by€civil€and€religious€authorities;€what€kinds€of€contraceptives€wereŠ œģ  Šavailable;€whether€the€Ecuadorian€Government€was€considering€the€authorization€of€abortions€in€theŠ …Õ  Šcase€of€a€risk€of€congential€birth€defects;€how€many€children€were€born€without€the€help€of€a€doctorŠ n¾  Šor€a€midwife,€how€the€exceptions€to€the€prohibition€of€abortion€could€be€reconciled€with€the€rightsŠ W§  Šof€the€child€as€laid€down€in€the€Ecuadorian€Constitution€as€well€as€in€several€internationalŠ @ Šinstruments;€what€percentage€of€the€expenses€of€a€family€with€two€or€three€children€were€coveredŠ )y Šby€the€minimum€salary€of€$50;€whether€it€was€planned€to€adopt€legislation€on€maternity€leave€thatŠ b Šwas€in€accordance€with€international€standards;€what€was€the€length€of€the€maternity€leave€periodŠ ūK Šand€whether€fathers€could€also€benefit€from€such€leave;€whether€civil€servants€enjoyed€a€specialŠ ä4 Šsocial€security€rgime;€what€measures€were€taken€to€remedy€the€problem€of€abandoned€children€andŠ Ķ Šminors;€whether€juvenile€delinquents€belonged€to€a€particular€ethnic€or€social€group;€what€was€theŠ ¶ Šnumber€of€homeless€persons;€and€whether€information€campaigns€had€been€initiated€in€the€contextŠ Ÿļ Šof€family€planning.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ139.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€recalled€that€a€recent€study€by€ELAC€on€povertyŠ ZŖ Šin€Ecuador€had€remarked€that€social€statistics€were€generally€absent.€€This€situation€was€beingŠ C“ Šimproved€and€work€was€proceeding€on€a€population€and€housing€census.€€In€1980,€21€per€cent€of€theŠ ,| Šeconomically€active€population€had€had€social€security€coverage,€in€1989€that€figure€had€been€22Š e Šper€cent€and€it€was€estimated€that€the€figure€for€1990€would€be€22.3€per€cent.€€Measures€to€protectŠ žN Šthe€family€included€action€to€provide€school€meals€in€primary€schools€and€setting€up€day€nurseriesŠ ē 7 Što€facilitate€the€entry€of€women€into€the€labour€market.€€With€respect€to€post„natal€and€ante„natalŠ Š!   Šcare€for€women,€the€representative€stressed€that€a€great€disparity€existed€in€the€availability€ofŠ ¹" ! Šservices€as€between€urban€and€rural€areas.€€Approximately€half€of€the€female€population€did€notŠ ¢#ņ" Šreceive€such€services€and€as€a€result€the€infant€mortality€was€high.€€Frequently,€the€indigenousŠ ‹$Ū# Špopulation,€did€not€go€to€the€local€hospitals€because€they€were€not€informed€of€what€services€theyŠ t%Ä $ Šoffered.€€A€special€chapter€in€the€Labour€Code€defined€domestic€service€and€contained€regulationsŠ ]&­!% Šon€modalities€and€remuneration.€€Abortion,€with€some€exceptions,€was€a€criminal€offence€in€EcuadorŠ F'–"& Šbut€clandestine€abortions€which€led€to€an€increase€in€mortality€rates,€were€frequent.€€No€statisticsŠ /(#' Šon€the€employment€of€minors€were€available€but€it€was€clear,€notwithstanding€legislation€thatŠ )h$( Šprohibited€minors€from€working,€that€in€reality€children€did€work.€€€Universal€primary€education€wasŠ *Q%) Šthe€key€measure€to€protect€minors€from€economic€exploitation€and€ill„treatment€and€had€helped€toŠ ź*:&* Šlower€the€number€of€children€who€worked,€particularly€in€rural€areas.€€Sports€facilities€and€creativeŠ Ó+#'+ Šfacilities€were€provided€for€handicapped€children€and€juvenile€delinquents€but€the€problem€ofŠ ¼, (, Šjuvenile€delinquency€was€increasing€with€urbanization.€€Juvenile€drug€addiction€was€being€tackledŠ „-õ(- Šby€an€information€campaign€in€the€schools€and€by€medical€help€for€juvenile€drug€addicts.Š ° ŠĢ140.€€Replying€to€a€query€regarding€special€courts€for€juveniles,€the€representative€explained€thatŠ ‚Ņ Šsuch€courts€could€be€found€in€all€major€cities€and€that€judges€on€such€court€placed€emphasis€onŠ k» Šsocial€rehabilitation.€€The€problem€of€abandoned€children€was€extremely€serious€and€traffic€in€suchŠ T¤ Šchildren€for€international€adoption€existed.€€Consequently,€there€was€a€need€to€improve€legislationŠ =  Šin€that€area.€Divorce€had€long€been€legalized€in€Ecuador.€€Health€centres€currently€offered€familyŠ & v Šplanning€services€and€contraceptives€were€available€in€pharmacies€and€in€medical€distributionŠ  _ Šcentres.€€Under€article€61€of€the€Civil€Code€a€judge€could€take€steps€ņņex€officioóó€to€protect€the€life€ofŠ ų H Šan€unborn€child€if€he€considered€it€to€be€in€danger.€€No€proposals€had€been€made€to€allow€abortionŠ į 1  Šon€the€grounds€of€a€childššs€deformity.€€On€maternity€and€paternity€leave,€he€said€that€while€fathersŠ Ź   Šhad€perhaps€been€overlooked,€social€attitudes€would€probably€not€support€any€changes€in€the€LabourŠ ³  ŠCode€for€the€time€being.Š œģ  ŠĢņņArticle€11:€Right€to€an€adequate€standard€of€livingóóŠ n¾  ŠĢ141.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€a€description€as€well€as€the€results€of€food€agreementsŠ @ Šconcluded€with€international€organizations€and€wished€to€know€what€percentage€of€the€populationŠ )y Šbenefited€from€national€food€programmes.€€Information€was€also€sought€on€existing€programmes€andŠ b Šmeasures€to€control€the€population€explosion€and€to€guarantee€adequate€nutrition€as€well€asŠ ūK Šinformation€on€legislation€on€communal€and€co„operative€production€and€on€credit€facilities€andŠ ä4 Štechnical€assistance€for€peasants.€€They€also€wished€to€know€what€was€the€amount€in€dollars€of€theŠ Ķ Šminimum€living€wage;€what€housing€programmes€were€available€for€the€poorer€sectors;€whetherŠ ¶ Šloans€were€available€for€the€purchase€of€materials€to€enable€people€to€build€their€own€homes;Š Ÿļ Šwhether€there€were€any€legal€guarantees€for€the€protection€of€tenants;€and€what€percentage€of€theŠ ˆŲ Špopulation€lacked€essential€services€such€as€drinking€water,€drainage€and€electricity.Š qĮ ŠĢ142.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€know€what€measures€had€been€adopted€at€theŠ C“ Šnational,€regional€and€municipal€levels€to€overcome€the€problems€of€housing,€especially€of€marginalŠ ,| Šgroups;€whether€persons€wishing€to€buy€a€home€could€benefit€from€special€credit€facilities;€andŠ e Šwhether€tenants€could€be€expelled€from€their€homes€and,€if€so,€how€often€this€occurred€and€whatŠ žN Špossibilities€for€legal€remedies€existed.Š ē 7 ŠĢ143.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€despite€efforts€such€as€the€provision€ofŠ ¹" ! Šschool€meals,€malnutrition€was€still€rife.€€As€a€result€of€the€Governmentššs€population€policy€thereŠ ¢#ņ" Šhad€been€a€considerable€drop€in€the€birth€rate.€€Co„operative€efforts€enabled€Ecuador€to€regain€itsŠ ‹$Ū# Šleading€position€as€a€banana€exporter€and€there€were€many€agricultural€credit€and€technicalŠ t%Ä $ Šassistance€schemes€under€Ecuadorššs€system€of€integrated€rural€development.€€The€minimum€wageŠ ]&­!% Šin€Ecuador€had€been€halved€as€a€result€of€inflation,€and€now€stood€at€$50€a€month€but€very€fewŠ F'–"& Špeople€actually€earned€that€amount.€€The€growth€of€suburbs€and€slums€composed€of€makeshiftŠ /(#' Šdwellings€had€resulted€in€serious€health€problems.€€The€housing€shortage€in€1989€had€been€estimatedŠ )h$( Šat€572,000€units€in€urban€areas€and€468,000€units€in€rural€areas.€€Safeguards€for€tenants€includedŠ *Q%) Šrules€establishing€rent€ceilings€and€relating€to€the€termination€of€leases.€€An€average€of€60€per€centŠ ź*:&* Šof€urban€areas€were€now€provided€with€drinking€water€and€drainage.€€The€electrificationŠ Ó+#'+ Šprogrammes€had€brought€electricity€to€large€portions€of€both€urban€and€rural€areas€through€smallŠ ¼, (, Šplants€and€innovative€designs.Š „-õ(- Ї144.€€In€reply€to€other€questions,€the€representative€said€that€the€process€of€agricultural€reform€wasŠ ° Šbeing€constantly€reviewed€in€order€to€improve€the€living€conditions€of€the€peasants€and€to€developŠ ™é Šthe€countryside.€€The€housing€situation€in€suburban€areas€was€far€from€satisfactory€and€publicŠ ‚Ņ Šservices€there€were€inadequate.€€New€construction€was€made€difficult€because€tenants€couldŠ k» Šnormally€not€be€evicted,€unless€they€did€not€comply€with€the€terms€of€the€lease€or€systematicallyŠ T¤ Šfailed€to€pay€the€rent.€€Credits€were€only€provided€to€those€who€were€solvent.€€A€large€proportionŠ =  Šof€the€population€were€therefore€unable€to€obtain€credit.Š & v ŠĢņņArticle€12:€Right€to€physical€and€mental€healthóóŠ ų H ŠĢ145.€€Members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€percentage€of€the€population€receivedŠ Ź   Šmedical€attention€through€the€social€security€scheme€and€from€the€Ministry€of€Public€Health;€whatŠ ³  Šwas€the€number€of€medical€centres€in€urban€and€rural€areas;€what€initiatives€and€activities€had€beenŠ œģ  Šundertaken€by€the€National€Institute€for€the€Child€and€the€Family€in€the€areas€of€health€protection;Š …Õ  Šwhat€percentage€of€undernourished€children€received€supplementary€food;€what€was€the€lifeŠ n¾  Šexpectancy€of€Ecuadorians€and€how€had€these€levels€changed€in€recent€years;€what€steps€had€beenŠ W§  Štaken€for€the€treatment€and€rehabilitation€of€drug€addicts;€what€was€the€Government€policy€toŠ @ Šfacilitate€the€purchase€of€medicines€for€the€underprivileged€sectors;€what€ecological€problems€hadŠ )y Šbeen€encountered€by€Ecuador;€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€limit€the€effects€of€the€deteriorationŠ b Šof€the€environment;€what€actions€were€undertaken€in€the€area€of€pollution€control€together€with€theŠ ūK Šcountries€of€the€Andean€Group€and€what€changes€were€reflected€in€the€priority€plans€andŠ ä4 Šprogrammes€mentioned€in€the€annex€to€the€initial€report€on€articles€10€to€12€of€the€Covenant.Š Ķ ŠĢ146.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€the€rate€of€inflation€hadŠ Ÿļ Šdeveloped€in€recent€years.€€Noting€that€70€per€cent€of€urban€and€rural€housing€was€deemedŠ ˆŲ Šinadequate€and€that€the€right€to€housing€was€guaranteed€in€the€Constitution,€they€also€asked€whatŠ qĮ Špolicies€had€been€adopted€to€improve€this€situation.Š ZŖ ŠĢ147.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€traditional€forms€of€medicalŠ ,| Šcare,€through€faith€healers€and€clairvoyants,€were€allowed;€what€criteria€were€applied€in€determiningŠ e Šwho€belonged€to€a€high€risk€group€mentioned€in€paragraph€110€of€the€report€on€articles€10€to€12;Š žN Šwhat€was€the€scope€of€the€problem€of€AIDS€and€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€arrest€the€spreadŠ ē 7 Šof€that€disease;€whether€the€Government€had€adopted€measures€to€inform€the€population€of€theŠ Š!   Šexistence€of€health€care€centres;€what€was€the€geographical€distribution€of€hospitals€and€health€careŠ ¹" ! Šcentres,€both€in€the€public€and€private€sector;€and€whether€there€was€a€system€obliging€doctors€toŠ ¢#ņ" Šwork€for€a€certain€period€in€rural€areas.€€Finally,€members€asked€for€information€about€the€causesŠ ‹$Ū# Šof€infant€mortality€and€action€taken€to€combat€childhood€diseases.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ148.€€The€representative€of€WHO€provided€the€Committee€with€statistical€information€on€worldŠ F'–"& Šstandards€for€infant€mortality.€€In€reply€to€other€questions,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€saidŠ /(#' Šthat€medical€coverage€through€the€social€security€scheme€affected€only€2€out€of€10€people.€Š )h$( ŠHowever,€so€many€health€centres€had€been€established€in€recent€years€that€some€hospitals€and€clinicsŠ *Q%) Šappeared€to€be€underutilized.€€The€number€of€school€breakfasts€was€not€sufficient€to€meetŠ ź*:&* Šrequirements.€€Life€expectancy€had€risen€thanks€to€preventive€and€therapeutic€medical€techniquesŠ Ó+#'+ Šand€mass€immunization€campaigns,€and€such€measures€were€now€needed€to€address€the€problemsŠ ¼, (, Šof€the€older€population€groups.€€The€encroachment€of€human€populations€and€the€establishment€ofŠ „-õ(- Šmajor€industrial€projects€were€leading€to€problems€of€soil€degradation€and€erosion.Š ° ŠĢ149.€€Replying€to€other€questions,€the€representative€said€that€improved€information€activities€by€theŠ ‚Ņ Šmedia€concerning€health€facilities€had€reduced€the€latterššs€limited€utilization.€€Public€and€privateŠ k» Šsectors€of€the€health€care€system€were€co„ordinated.€€There€were€a€number€of€suburban€areas€whereŠ T¤ Šhealth€service€coverage€was€inadequate€because€physicians€and€other€medical€personnel€preferredŠ =  Što€live€in€large€cities.€€In€1988„1989,€approximately€361€community€health€care€centres€had€beenŠ & v Šestablished€in€various€marginal€areas€of€the€country.€€The€level€of€AIDS€infection€was€still€low;€theŠ  _ ŠGovernment€was€using€the€media€to€disseminate€information€about€the€disease€and€to€recommendŠ ų H Šthe€use€of€condoms,€although€there€was€considerable€prejudice€against€that€practice.€€High„riskŠ į 1  Šgroups€included€people€most€affected€by€underdevelopment.Š Ź   ŠĢņņArticle€13€and€14:€Right€to€educationó󀀩 œģ  ŠĢ150.€€Members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€was€the€illiteracy€rate€among€adults;€whatŠ n¾  Šwas€the€rate€of€enrolment€in€primary€schools€in€urban€and€rural€areas€and€its€percentage€relative€toŠ W§  Šthe€population;€what€percentage€of€children€completed€sixth€grade€and€what€was€the€drop„out€rateŠ @ Šat€other€levels€of€education;€whether€textbooks€for€primary€education€were€subsidized;€and€whatŠ )y Šmeasures€had€been€taken€to€remedy€the€lack€of€schools€in€marginal€urban€areas.€€An€explanation€wasŠ b Šalso€sought€of€such€programmes€as€the€expansion€of€primary€level€education,€remedial€primaryŠ ūK Šeducation€and€inter„cultural€bilingual€education€and€of€the€proportion€of€the€population€thatŠ ä4 Šbenefited€from€them.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€what€was€the€salary,€in€United€States€dollars,Š Ķ Šof€a€primary€schoolteacher€in€the€public€sector€and€its€relationship€to€the€minimum€living€wage;Š ¶ Šwhether€secondary€education€of€three€years€was€considered€as€pre„university€education;€what€wasŠ Ÿļ Šthe€enrolment€and€coverage€at€the€secondary€and€higher€levels;€what€the€ratio€was€between€those€inŠ ˆŲ Špublic€and€in€private€education,€what€the€proportion€was€between€public€and€private€universities,Š qĮ Šwhether€university€education€was€subsidized€or€free€and€whether€scholarships€and€educational€loansŠ ZŖ Šwere€available€at€the€various€educational€levels,€including€the€university€level.Š C“ ŠĢ151.€€In€addition,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€circumstances€prompted€studentsŠ e Što€drop€out€of€school;€what€was€the€unemployment€rate€among€persons€with€a€secondary€orŠ žN Šuniversity€education;€whether€the€Government€was€able€to€sustain€education€expenses€at€the€levelŠ ē 7 Šprovided€for€in€article€71€of€its€Constitution;€what€were€the€conditions€for€scholarships;€what€wasŠ Š!   Šthe€dimension€of€the€brain„drain€problem;€what€was€the€level€of€literacy€among€men€and€women;Š ¹" ! Šwhat€measures€had€been€adopted€to€allow€working€children€to€go€to€school;€and€what€special€schoolsŠ ¢#ņ" Šexisted€for€disabled€children.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ152.€€In€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€the€illiteracy€rate€was€13.9€per€cent€ofŠ ]&­!% Šthe€adult€population.€€Provisional€data€on€enrolment€in€primary€and€secondary€schools€for€1989Š F'–"& Šindicated€that€1,950,000€students€had€been€enrolled€in€primary€schools€and€759,000€in€secondaryŠ /(#' Šschools.€€The€drop„out€rate€in€1989€in€primary€schools€had€been€16.8€per€cent€in€urban€areas€andŠ )h$( Š33.8€per€cent€in€rural€areas,€25.3€per€cent€being€the€overall€figure.€€The€number€of€students€at€theŠ *Q%) Šuniversity€level€had€undergone€an€exponential€growth€with€a€consequential€danger€of€a€reductionŠ ź*:&* Šin€the€quality€of€education.€€The€high€drop„out€rate€at€all€educational€levels€resulted€from€the€factŠ Ó+#'+ Šthat€many€students,€especially€in€rural€areas,€were€obliged€to€work.€€A€programme€had€now€beenŠ ¼, (, Šestablished€to€enable€them€to€combine€work€and€studies.€€Textbooks€for€primary€education€wereŠ „-õ(- Šeither€subsidized€or€provided€free€of€charge,€but€they€were€only€available€at€a€limited€number€ofŠ ° Šdistribution€centres.€€The€Government€had€been€working€together€with€local€communities€to€remedyŠ ™é Šthe€lack€of€schools€in€marginal€rural€areas€but€serious€problems€for€the€transport€of€students€wereŠ ‚Ņ Šbeing€encountered€because€of€the€rugged€terrain.€€The€earnings€of€primary€schoolteachers€were€$20Š k» Što€$30€above€the€monthly€minimum€wage€of€$50.€€Secondary€education€was€considered€pre„Š T¤ Šuniversity€education€and€enrolment€at€that€level€as€well€as€at€higher€levels€was€on€the€rise.€€InŠ =  Šaccordance€with€the€Constitution,€universities€were€predominantly€public.€€In€1989,€70€per€cent€ofŠ & v Šall€students€were€enrolled€in€public€universities€and€30€per€cent€in€private€institutions.€€UniversityŠ  _ Šeducation€was€heavily€subsidized€by€the€Government.€€Many€Ecuadorian€students€were€enrolled€inŠ ų H Šuniversities€abroad,€which€very€often€resulted€in€a€brain€drain.Š į 1  ŠĢ153.€€Replying€to€other€questions,€the€representative€stated€that€the€illiteracy€rate€in€the€countryŠ ³  Šremained€high.€€At€the€primary€education€level,€the€school€attendance€in€1988€had€been€65.4€perŠ œģ  Šcent.€€An€intensive€campaign€to€improve€linguistic€education€had€been€initiated€in€1988€and€aŠ …Õ  ŠNational€Directorate€for€the€Inter„cultural€and€Linguistic€Education€of€Indigenous€Peoples€had€beenŠ n¾  Šset€up€within€the€Ministry€of€Education.€€Bilingual€education€was€offered€at€1,866€adult€educationŠ W§  Šcentres€and€1,523€schools.€€The€Ecuadorian€Educational€Credit€and€Fellowships€Institute€gave€creditŠ @ Što€needy€Ecuadorians€to€enable€them€to€pursue€their€studies.€€With€regard€to€the€brain€drain,€aŠ )y Šgrowing€number€of€qualified€persons€were€leaving€the€country.€€Many€of€them€went€to€Venezuela.Š b ŠĢņņArticle€15:€€Right€to€take€part€in€cultural€life€and€to€enjoy€the€benefits€of€scientific€progress€and€toŠ ä4 Šbenefit€from€the€protection€of€the€interests€of€authorsóóŠ Ķ ŠĢ154.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€Government€toŠ Ÿļ Špreserve€indigenous€cultures€and€how€international€co„operation€in€scientific€and€cultural€mattersŠ ˆŲ Šhad€affected€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€and€the€life€of€indigenous€minorities;€whetherŠ qĮ Šmeasures€had€been€adopted€to€increase€the€general€knowledge€of€indigenous€and€other€cultures;€toŠ ZŖ Šwhat€extent€there€was€an€interaction€and€integration€of€the€various€cultures;€whether€the€museumŠ C“ Šfor€pre„Colombian€art€benefited€from€grants€from€UNESCO;€and€whether€there€were€any€restrictionsŠ ,| Šon€scientific€or€technical€activities.€€A€number€of€activities€had€been€undertaken€in€connection€withŠ e Šthe€Decade€for€Artists€and€a€variety€of€cultural€and€scientific€programmes€had€been€carried€out€inŠ žN Šco„operation€with€UNESCO,€UNIDO,€UNDP,€€and€the€World€Bank.Š ē 7 ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ ¹" ! ŠĢ155.€€Members€of€the€Committee€indicated€their€satisfaction€to€the€Government€of€Ecuador€at€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šcontents€of€the€reports€presented€and€praised€the€frankness,€sincerity€and€objectivity€with€which€theŠ t%Ä $ Šrepresentative€of€that€country€described€the€conditions€in€which€the€Covenant€was€implemented.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ156.€€While€taking€note€of€the€difficulties€indicated,€notably€the€foreign€debt€burden,€the€CommitteeŠ /(#' Šwished€to€draw€attention€to€the€obligation€devolving€upon€States€parties€under€the€Covenant,Š )h$( Šwhatever€their€level€of€development.€€Despite€the€difficulties€noted€by€the€representative,€theŠ *Q%) ŠCommittee€nevertheless€noted€that€progress€had€been€achieved€by€the€country,€in€the€light€of€theŠ ź*:&* Šinformation€contained€in€the€reports.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ157.€€Members€of€the€Committee€regretted,€however,€that€the€extremely€useful€explanations€givenŠ „-õ(- Šby€the€representative€and€the€relevant€information€contained€in€the€reports€had€not€been€backed€upŠ ° Šby€statistics€which€would€have€enabled€the€Committee€to€form€a€better€understanding€and€to€measureŠ ™é Šthe€progress€achieved€by€the€Government€of€Ecuador.€€The€Committee€wished€to€draw€attention€toŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€necessity€of€harmonizing€the€Labour€Code€with€standards€set€in€international€instruments,Š k» Šespecially€with€regard€to€maternity€leave.€€Taking€note€of€the€fact€that€the€representative€had€hadŠ T¤ Švery€little€time€to€provide€detailed€answers€to€the€questions€relating€to€articles€13€to€15€of€theŠ =  ŠCovenant,€the€Committee€expressed€the€wish€to€receive€additional€information€to€be€provided€inŠ & v Šwriting.Š  _ ŠĢ158.€€Concern€was€also€expressed€about€the€situation€of€abandoned€children€in€Ecuador€and€aboutŠ į 1  Šthe€need€for€more€to€be€done€to€ensure€that€the€right€to€an€adequate€standard€of€living€was€enjoyed,Š Ź   Šas€enshrined€in€the€Ecuadorian€Constitution€as€well€as€in€the€Covenant.Š ³  ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢ