ÿWPC. Fc‘ÙmÚ¤†¶öò«Ëº)¾ëÏR'M\¼ôŠ)öR&ÒQY|ÏËÙö1Žm´À£e3*oc‚\€í ›Ðû[ªD¹•¡Q˜ ˆzËÕ»1ViÞ].ÆmŒNÒÀùÿþÛ`*Tt¡oŒ~ó³VD<‚[Ÿ«1/F}Éñ†Ã]ö02VGl(…Jˑ？ÜyŸÑXÒWM Yæš[ÅSà  `Tì6½ƒboÁàÖ{qÚ-ïŠÉ0¬ˆ°Üz32ɱ0ŠŽxªÐ™¹® W~0yîmªú<Å^’ÍO‘4\_ÑÒí ð¯b8È!#>Ÿ”·÷*¦””UËg<117úñWRæMÎt¸•ª {G8õ·’¹ñ_V…¢l‚«Rrç6eÔ_{ÔXLkj1ð~Ñ\¼¼z多®&Gû¹'2éÛž½ä¦Ô@έ·ë©9³$öð¤ U4Š¸Ë×ó@ [ªŽõé¦ô6•¨Ù*¼ ŠM Û@ÀIsI9 ãɵ>)¥ôpð„ Å·ÀÃê;hbò{RzzzÓö6Áö¿^Tæ–Ɔ “¨Ðyà=kÆŸô¨•ÇÜ{­£Á‰Ù§éš€ Y0Ø×é6o¶·[¤…9ÒÉ*¶jˆ#Á UNÏ % 0:# U >] ^ › w§ 4« ¿ Î mÐ Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð Ð 0 ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç ç B                             0C$ $ $ $ $ $ %g ÝŒ6ißÌb˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ôô\  `‹&Times New RomanÙô* 5Oð*°Ø ©3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ<rrÿÿ:footnote refò òòòÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔó óóóÔS‡ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÔ‡XXXÔ d(ÿÿ$òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó Ý ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X1”XXXÔòòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó€€òòOfficial€Records€of€the€Economic€and€Social€Council,€2000,€Supplement€No.€2óóÐ ° Ð(E/2000/22-E/C.12/1999/11),€annex€VII.Ð ™é Ð ÓÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X1”XXXÔòòÚ  Ú2Ú  Úóó€€See€WHO,€òòFemale€Genital€Mutilation:€€An€Overviewóó,€1998,€p.€13.Ð ° Ð ,Ý ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X1”XXXÔòòÚ  Ú3Ú  Úóó€€Adopted€by€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights,€held€at€Vienna€from€14€to€25€June€1993Ð ° Ð(A/Ô_ÔCONFÔ_Ô.157/24€(Part€One)),€chap.€III. ¹Ý ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X1”XXXÔòòÚ  Ú4Ú  Úóó€€General€Assembly€resolution€48/134,€annex.Ð ° Ð ÂÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X1”XXXÔòòÚ  Ú5Ú  Úóó€€UnitedNations€publication,€Sales€No.:€€E.98.XIV.1.Ð ° ÐÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÔ‡¼yZ»XXÔÓ  ÓEGYPTó óÔ#†X1”X»¼yZ@#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ_ÓÓ5ÓÌÌò òÔ_ÔCESCRÔ_Ô€E/2001/22ó óÐ “ã ÐÌÌ143.à  àThe€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Egypt€on€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantÐ O Ÿ Ð(E/1990/5/Add.38)€at€its€12th€and€13th€meetings,€held€on€2€and€3€May€2000,€and€adopted,€at€its€24thÐ 8 ˆ Ðto€26th€meetings,€held€on€11€and€12€May€2000,€the€following€concluding€observations.Ð ! q ÐÌò òA.€€Introductionó óÐ ó C  ÐÌ144.à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€submission€of€the€initial€report€of€Egypt,€which€has€beenÐ Æ  Ðprepared€in€conformity€with€the€revised€reporting€guidelines€established€by€the€Committee.€Ð ¯ÿ  ÐTheCommittee€also€welcomes€the€written€replies€to€its€list€of€issues,€and€expresses€its€appreciationÐ ˜è  Ðfor€the€constructive€dialogue€between€the€Committee€members€and€the€government€delegation.€€TheÐ Ñ  ÐCommittee€regrets,€however,€that€the€replies€by€the€delegation€to€a€number€of€questions€raised€byÐ jº ÐCommittee€members€were€incomplete.Ð S£ ÐÌò òB.€€Positive€aspectsó óÐ %u ÐÌ145.à  àThe€Committee€acknowledges€the€general€progress€made€by€the€State€party€in€recent€yearsÐ øH Ðin€implementing€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€commends€EgyptÐ á1 Ðfor€the€striking€improvements€in€its€educational€system,€as€cited€by€UNICEF,€and€for€itsÐ Ê Ðachievements€towards€eradicating€illiteracy,€for€which€Egypt€has€received€an€award€from€UNESCO.Ð ³ ÐÌ146.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€State€partyððs€recent€efforts€with€regard€to€theÐ …Õ Ðprotection€of€womenððs€human€rights,€such€as€the€adoption€of€a€new€divorce€law€improving€theÐ n¾ Ðposition€of€women.Ð W§ ÐÌ147.à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€stand€taken€by€the€Supreme€Constitutional€Court€of€EgyptÐ ) y Ðwhich€invoked€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€to€acquit€rail€workers€who€had€been€prosecuted€forÐ !b Ðgoing€on€strike€in€1986€and€declared€that€the€Penal€Code€should€be€amended€to€allow€the€right€toÐ û!K  Ðstrike.Ð ä"4! ÐÌ148.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€the€efforts€it€has€made€with€a€view€to€ensuringÐ ¶$ # Ðeffective€implementation€of€the€right€to€health,€particularly€by€establishing,€throughout€the€country,Ð Ÿ%ï $ Ðincluding€in€remote€urban€and€rural€settlements,€a€network€of€primary€health-care€units€and€centres.Ð ˆ&Ø!% ÐÌ149.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€that€the€State€party€has€undertaken€new€and€effectiveÐ Z(ª#' Ðmeasures€to€introduce€environment„and€health„friendly€fuel,€beginning€with€the€publictransportationÐ C)“$( Ðsystems€in€major€cities€where€pollution€is€a€grave€threat€to€life€Ð ,*|%) Ðand€health.Ð +e&* ÐÌ150.à  àThe€Committee€also€expresses€its€appreciation€for€the€holding€of€an€Arab€regional€seminarÐ ç,7(, Ðon€human€rights€and€development€in€Cairo€in€June€1999,€and€notes€that€the€Government€hasÐ Ð- )- ÐÔ_Ôdeveloped€with€UNDP€a€pilot€project€for€capacity„building€in€human€rights€which€was€launched€inÐ ° ÐJune€1999€and€which€focuses€on€the€right€to€development.Ð ™é ÐÌ151.à  àThe€Committee€also€expresses€appreciation€for€the€support€of€the€government€delegationforÐ k» Ðthe€Statement€of€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€to€the€ThirdMinisterialÐ T¤ ÐConference€of€the€World€Trade€OrganizationÝ‚/ÿÿÿÝò òòòÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÝ  ÝóóÝ‚/ÿ‰ƒÝó óÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÝ  Ý׃|×Ý ƒvÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×òòóó€(held€in€Seattle€from30November€to€3€DecemberÐ =  Ð1999),€that€international€human€rights€obligations€shouldbeamatter€of€priority€concern€andÐ & v Ðtherefore€should€be€taken€into€account€in€trade€negotiations.Ð  _ ÐÌò òC.€€Factors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€Covenantó óÐ á 1  Ðò òÌó ó152.à  àThe€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€state€of€emergency€that€has€been€in€place€in€EgyptÐ µ  Ðsince€1981€limits€the€scope€of€implementation€of€constitutional€guarantees€for€economic,€social€andÐ žî  Ðcultural€rights;€that€some€aspects€of€structural€adjustment€programmes€and€economic€liberalizationÐ ‡×  Ðpolicies€introduced€by€the€Government€of€Egypt,€in€concert€with€international€financial€institutions,Ð pÀ  Ðhave€impeded€the€implementation€of€the€Covenantððs€provisions,€particularly€with€regard€to€the€mostÐ Y©  Ðvulnerable€groups€of€Egyptian€society;€and€that€the€persistence€of€traditional€practices€and€attitudes,Ð B’ Ðdeeply€entrenched€in€Egyptian€society,€with€regard€to€women€and€children€hamper€the€ability€of€theÐ +{ ÐGovernment€to€protect€and€promote€their€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.Ð d ÐÌ153.à  àThe€discrepancies€between€available€resources€and€the€actual€needs€of€the€people€areÐ æ6 Ðbecoming€increasingly€marked€given€the€climatic€and€geographical€conditions€in€the€country€andÐ Ï Ðthe€rapid€increase€in€the€population.€€These€factors€impede€the€full€enjoyment€of€economic,€socialÐ ¸ Ðand€cultural€rights€in€the€country.Ð ¡ñ ÐÌò òD.€€Principal€subjects€of€concernó óÐ sà ÐÌ154.à  àThe€Committee€regrets€the€lack€of€clarity€concerning€the€legal€status€of€the€Covenant€in€theÐ F– ÐEgyptian€domestic€legal€order.Ð / ÐÌ155.à  àThe€Committee€expresses€its€grave€concern€about€the€considerable€divergence€in€EgyptÐ  Q Ðbetween€the€constitutional€provisions€on€the€one€hand€and€the€national€legislation€and€practice€onÐ ê : Ðthe€other,€with€respect€to€the€societal€status€of€women€in€general,€womenððs€participation€in€politicalÐ Ó!#  Ðlife,€the€provisions€in€criminal€law€with€respect€to€adultery,€and€female€genital€mutilation.€Ð ¼" ! ÐMoreover,€the€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€divergence€between€law€and€practice€with€regardÐ ¥#õ" Ðto€the€occurrence€of€child€labour.Ð Ž$Þ# ÐÌ156.à  àThe€Committee€regrets€that€the€State€party€does€not€take€its€obligations€under€the€CovenantÐ `&°!% Ðinto€account€in€its€negotiations€with€international€financial€institutions.Ð I'™"& ÐÌ157.à  àThe€Committee€regrets€the€lack€of€information€and€reliable€statistics€which€has€hamperedÐ )k$( Ðits€full€assessment€of€the€situation€in€Egypt€with€regard€to,€òòinter€alia,óó€poverty,€unemployment€andÐ ° Ðfemale€genital€mutilation.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€about€the€absence€of€anÐ ™é Ðofficially€established€poverty€line.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ158.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€although€the€State€party€has€undertaken€initial€stepsÐ T¤ Ðagainst€the€practice€of€female€genital€mutilation€in€Egypt€by€criminalizing€it€outside€of€hospitals€byÐ =  Ðpersons€without€a€medical€qualification,€this€measure€does€not€make€its€practice€by€medicalÐ & v Ðpractitioners€a€criminal€offence.€€The€Committee€further€notes€with€concern€that€the€percentage€ofÐ  _ Ðwomen€who€are€victims€of€female€genital€mutilation€remains€alarmingly€high:€€WHO€statistics€forÐ ø H Ð1995Ý‚/ÿÿÿÝò òòòÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÝ  ÝóóÝ‚/ÿÙƒÝó óÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÝ  Ý׃}×Ý ƒvÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×òòóó€showed€an€estimated€97percent€prevalence.Ð á 1  ÐÌ159.à  àAlthough€the€Committee€welcomes€the€efforts€by€the€State€party€in€promoting€equality€ofÐ ³  Ðmen€and€women€through€a€new€divorce€law,€it€notes€with€concern€that€the€new€law€containsÐ œì  Ðprovisions€that€may€disadvantage€women.€€In€addition,€the€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€theÐ …Õ  ÐNationality€Law€does€not€grant€equal€citizenship€status€to€children€of€Egyptian€women€married€toÐ n¾  Ðnon„nationals.Ð W§  ÐÌ160.à  àThe€Committee€is€disturbed€about€the€apparent€inability€of€the€Government€to€address€theÐ )y Ðacute€problem€of€unemployment€in€Egypt€as€well€as€the€uncertainty€of€workersðð€rights€as€guaranteedÐ b Ðunder€article€8€of€the€Covenant.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€in€spite€of€theÐ ûK ÐSupreme€State€Security€Courtððs€conclusion€that€the€Penal€Code€should€be€amended€to€allow€the€rightÐ ä4 Ðto€strike,€article€124€of€the€Penal€Code€continues€to€characterize€strikes€as€criminal€offences.€€In€thisÐ Í Ðregard,€the€Committee€further€expresses€its€concern€about€the€new€proposed€labour€law€thatÐ ¶ Ðreportedly€contains€provisions€infringing€upon€the€rights€of€workers,€such€as€barring€labourÐ Ÿï Ðcommittees€from€negotiating€collectively€on€behalf€of€workers€and€denying€workers€the€right€toÐ ˆØ Ðstrike€without€the€approval€of€two€thirds€of€a€trade€unionððs€membership.Ð qÁ ЀÌ161.à  àThe€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€that€Law€No.€153€of€1999€(Law€on€Civil€AssociationsÐ C“ Ðand€Institutions,€popularly€called€the€ð ðnon„governmental€organizations€Lawðð)€doesnot€conform€toÐ ,| Ðarticle€8€of€the€Covenant€and€contradicts€article€55€of€the€1971€EgyptianConstitution€affirming€theÐ e Ðright€of€citizens€to€form€associations,€and€gives€the€Government€control€over€the€right€of€non„Ð þN Ðgovernmental€organizations€to€manage€their€own€activities,€including€seeking€external€funding.Ð ç 7 ÐÌ162.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€problem€of€domestic€violence€against€women€isÐ ¹" ! Ðnot€being€sufficiently€addressed€and€that€marital€rape€is€not€criminalized.Ð ¢#ò" ÐÌ163.à  àThe€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€over€reports€that€children€under€12€years€of€age€workÐ t%Ä $ Ðmore€than€six€hours€daily€in€the€agricultural€sector,€which€deprives€them€of€their€right€to€education.€Ð ]&­!% ÐIn€addition,€reports€also€claim€that€children€between€8€and€15€years€of€age€work€in€cotton€gins€in€theÐ F'–"& ÐNile€Delta€under€unfavourable€conditions€without€lunch€or€rest€breaks,€and€have€no€protection€underÐ /(#' ÐEgyptian€law€particularly€with€regard€to€work„related€injuries€and€diseases.Ð )h$( ÐÐ *Q%) Ð164.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€massive€housing€problems€faced€by€the€EgyptianÐ ° Ðpopulation,€as€acknowledged€by€the€delegation€of€Egypt,€and€which€have€been€exacerbated€by€theÐ ™é Ðderegulation€of€rents€and€an€acute€shortage€of€low„cost€housing.€€Furthermore,€forced€evictionsÐ ‚Ò Ðwithout€alternative€housing€or€compensation€being€provided€have€been€occurring€in€poorÐ k» Ðcommunities€like€the€pottersðð€village€and€the€Ayn€Hilwan€area€in€Cairo.€€The€Committee€isÐ T¤ Ðparticularly€concerned€that€in€Cairo€people€who€cannot€afford€housing€are€living€in€cemeteries.€Ð =  ÐUnofficial€statistics€estimate€their€numbers€to€be€between€500,000€and€1€million.Ð & v ÐÌ165.à  àThe€Committee€regrets€the€insufficiency€of€information€with€regard€to€the€situation€ofÐ ø H Ðpersons€with€mental€illnesses€and€disabilities€and€the€relevant€legal€regime,€including€safeguardsÐ á 1  Ðagainst€abuse€and€neglect.Ð Ê   ÐÌ166.à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€despite€the€achievements€of€Egypt€in€the€field€ofÐ œì  Ðeducation,€inequality€of€access€to€education€between€boys€and€girls,€high€drop„out€rates€for€boys€andÐ …Õ  Ðhigh€illiteracy€rates€among€adults,€particularly€women,€persist.Ð n¾  ÐÌ167.à  àThe€Committee€is€gravely€concerned€over€the€official€censorship€imposed€on€the€media,€asÐ @ Ðwell€as€literary€and€artistic€works.Ð )y ÐÌò òE.€€Suggestions€and€recommendationsó óÐ ûK ÐÌ168.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€firmly€establish€the€legal€status€of€the€Covenant€inÐ Î ÐEgyptian€legal€order,€and€to€ensure€that€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€can€be€invoked€before€theÐ · Ðcourts.Ð  ð ÐÌ169.à  àThe€Committee€strongly€urges€the€State€party,€notwithstanding€the€declaration€made€uponÐ r Ðratification€of€the€Covenant,€to€undertake€a€comprehensive€review€of€its€legislation€as€soon€asÐ [« Ðpossible,€with€a€view€to€amending€laws€that€contradict€the€provisions€of€its€own€Constitution€andÐ D” Ðof€the€Covenant.Ð -} ÐÌ170.à  àThe€Committee€strongly€recommends€that€Egyptððs€obligations€under€the€Covenant€shouldÐ ÿO Ðbe€taken€into€account€in€all€aspects€of€its€negotiations€with€international€financial€institutions,€suchÐ è 8 Ðas€IMF,€the€World€Bank€and€WTO,€to€ensure€that€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€particularlyÐ Ñ!!  Ðof€the€most€vulnerable€groups,€are€not€undermined.Ð º" ! ÐÌ171.à  àThe€Committee€strongly€recommends€that€an€up„to„date€national€plan€of€action€for€humanÐ Œ$Ü# Ðrights€in€accordance€with€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action,Ý‚/ÿÿÿÝò òòòÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÝ  ÝóóÝ‚/ÿ…8ƒÝó óÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÝ  Ý׃~×Ý ƒvÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×òòóó€be€developed€in€Egypt,Ð u%Å $ Ðand€requests€the€State€party€to€include€a€copy€of€the€plan€in€its€second€periodic€report€to€theÐ ^&®!% ÐCommittee.Ð G'—"& ÐÌâ â172.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€establish€a€national€human€rights€institution€Ô_ÔwhichÐ )i$( Ðis€in€full€conformity€with€the€Paris€Principles.Ý‚/ÿÿÿÝò òòòÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔóóÝ‚/ÿ:;ƒÝó óÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ_ÔÝ  Ý׃×Ý ƒvÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×òòóóÐ ° Ðâ âÌ173.à  àThe€Committee€strongly€urges€the€State€party€to€seek€assistance,€including€internationalÐ ‚Ò Ðcooperation,€in€order€to€collect€the€statistics€and€information€necessary€to€formulate€effectiveÐ k» Ðstrategies€to€address€problem€areas€such€as€unemployment,€poverty,€housing€and€forcedevictions.Ð T¤ ÐÌ174.à  àThe€Committee€strongly€urges€the€State€party€to€address€the€problem€of€female€genitalÐ & v Ðmutilation€as€a€matter€of€high€priority€with€a€view€to€moving€actively€towards€the€total€eradicationÐ  _ Ðof€this€practice€in€the€country.€€The€Government€is€encouraged€to€seek€technical€assistance€fromÐ ø H ÐWHO€in€this€regard.Ð á 1  ÐÌ175.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€undertake€to€review€the€provisions€of€theÐ ³  Ðnew€divorce€law€with€a€view€to€removing€all€provisions€that€discriminate€against€women€and€placeÐ œì  Ðthem€at€a€disadvantage.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€Nationality€Law,€whichÐ …Õ  Ðdiscriminates€against€children€born€to€Egyptian€women€married€to€non„nationals,€be€revised.Ð n¾  ÐÌ176.à  àThe€Committee€calls€upon€the€State€party,€in€accordance€with€its€obligations€under€article8Ð @ Ðof€the€Covenant€and€the€Constitution€of€Egypt,€which€affirms€the€right€of€citizens€to€form€their€ownÐ )y Ðorganizations,€to€amend€or€repeal€Law€No.€153.ò òÐ b Ðó óÌ177.à  àThe€State€party€must€enhance€its€strategies€and€programmes€aimed€at€Ô_ÔcombatingÔ_Ô€domesticÐ ä4 Ðviolence.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€criminalize€marital€rape€and€alsoÐ Í Ðto€combat€this€problem€through€information€campaigns€and€educational€programmes.Ð ¶ ÐÌ178.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€steps€towards€establishing€stronger€labour€lawsÐ ˆØ Ðin€order€to€protect€children€from€abusive€working€conditions€and€to€undertake€immediate€measuresÐ qÁ Ðtowards€the€eradication€of€illegal€child€labour.Ð Zª ÐÌ179.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€combat€the€acute€housing€shortage€by€adopting€aÐ ,| Ðstrategy€and€a€plan€of€action€and€by€building€or€providing,€low„cost€rental€housing€units,€especiallyÐ e Ðfor€the€vulnerable€and€low€income€groups.€€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€remindsthe€StateÐ þN Ðparty€of€its€obligations€under€article€11€of€the€Covenant€and€refers€to€its€GeneralComments€No.€4Ð ç 7 Ð(1991)€on€the€right€to€adequate€housing€(art.€11,€para.€1,€of€the€Covenant)€and€No.€7€(1997)€onÐ Ð!   Ðforced€evictions,€to€guide€the€Governmentððs€housing€policies.Ð ¹" ! ÐÌ180.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€ensure€that€its€laws,€policies€and€practices€in€relationÐ ‹$Û# Ðto€HIV/AIDS€are€non„discriminatory€and€in€full€conformity€with€the€International€GuidelinesÐ t%Ä $ Ðadopted€at€the€Second€International€Consultation€on€HIV/AIDS€and€Human€Rights€inSeptemberÐ ]&­!% Ð1996.Ý‚/ÿÿÿÝò òòòÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÔ€X1”XhX1”ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔóóÝ‚/ÿgIƒÝó óÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ€X1”XXX1”ÔÔ_ÔÝ  Ý׃€b×Ý ƒvÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×òòóóÐ F'–"& Ї181.à  àThe€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€provide€more€information€in€its€second€periodicÐ ° Ðreport€about€the€mentally€ill,€including€how€many€are€hospitalized,€the€facilities€available€to€them,Ð ™é Ðand€the€legal€safeguards€for€the€protection€against€abuse€and€neglect€of€patients.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ182.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€undertake€measures€to€address€the€economic,€socialÐ T¤ Ðand€cultural€factors€that€are€the€root€causes€of€the€problem€of€inequality€of€access€to€education,€highÐ =  Ðdrop„out€rates€for€boys€and€high€illiteracy€rates€among€adults,€in€particular€women.€€The€CommitteeÐ & v Ðrequests€particular€attention€to€be€devoted€to€these€concerns€in€the€nextreport.Ð  _ ÐÌ183.à  àThe€Committee€calls€upon€the€Government€of€Egypt€to€respect€the€freedom€indispensableÐ á 1  Ðfor€creative€activity,€including€in€the€media,€as€provided€for€under€article€15,€paragraph€3,€ofÐ Ê   ÐtheCovenant.Ð ³  ÐÌ184.à  àThe€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€provide€updated€information,€including€statistics,Ð …Õ  Ðon€unemployment,€the€situation€of€women,€including€Ô_ÔFGMÔ_Ô,€poverty,€housing€and€homeless€personsÐ n¾  Ðin€its€second€periodic€report,€which€is€to€be€submitted€by€30€June€2003.Ð W§  ÐÌ185.à  àThe€Committee€requests€that€the€State€party€distribute€these€concluding€observations€asÐ )y Ðwidely€as€possible€among€its€citizens.Ð b ÐÓ»Ó