ÿWPCƒ ø=-qÌý-<ñÏÞã!Ÿ‘mÐ2Œ¢ñ"ýöKIT”ÂMqj̺ª¿£ª–{R‚íæ±Ñn'ædù;ê¤=N©òÆDæY0'\|õ:ÏÙög´ü ýØ“6Ay™¦îC×R‰cZ~¾Å;äðBhugZnE(í@4IŸLc¼rÅ/Ø«Ù5'Gu6ˆ{¿)G¸¿ÞŸÈR£›x±›è‡¥›d°u͉/m(vrHuc¶î¿ër YÄÍ'ˆî3Gͤ*9p{|£¾»Ö®·Pňœž8@„‹ifV%«Ç Ù¢Z7—u1LQSƒD _ÉMÉ»äÀ“üLO/×ÎúMå„uüd‹CsÓ1ï1 Q*P%ÎÇþrVK¯Ör¾mþÁ[+ÉâÔw*-¦Ÿ+Íûa­µàÔ‰…Ū7FWU•[ÁÊ™² ¸U&4H:pËc`Њ„žYÝÄo½GÏ|©F¸S"/ÓYRO·5•úu68ºÅ¼Çìà^«ï@§ å)Ààó5Véo³R¸ÅÙéJ|§Œ¿L’euˆß²½µqÒù|ÛËköR0ñ߇,éÒ§¿§Ê+w¡ãï$–Ê„iˆÁÆ?RÂÎyáŽ$5@Þïv #Á¨UNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,U@C˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô}:- eû*ð— ¬ž3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman Ý ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡¼qt»XXÔò òVENEZUELAó óÔ#†X8¨X»¼qtI#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ=Óò òÔ‡ X8¨XXX8¨ÔÓ  ÓÌÔ_ÔCESCRÔ_Ô€E/2002/22€(2001)Ð ° ÐÌÌó ó74.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Venezuela€on€the€implementation€ofÐ t Ä Ðthe€Covenant€(E/1990/6/Add.19)€at€its€3rd€to€5th€meetings,€held€on24and25April€2001,€andÐ ` ° Ðadopted,€at€its€19th€and€23rd€meetings,€held€on€4€and8May€2001,€the€following€concludingÐ L œ Ðobservations.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌA.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ `  ÐÌ75.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€presence€of€a€large€and€high„level€delegation€and€theÐ è8  Ðcooperative€spirit€with€which€the€delegation€approached€the€constructive€dialogue€with€theÐ Ô$  ÐCommittee.€€However,€the€Committee€regrets€the€10„year€delay€in€the€submission€of€the€secondÐ À  Ðperiodic€report€as€well€as€the€delay€in€the€submission€of€the€written€replies€to€the€Committeeððs€listÐ ¬ü  Ðof€issues€(E/C.12/Q/Ô_ÔVENÔ_Ô/1).€€In€addition,€the€Committee€regrets€that€many€questions€put€to€theÐ ˜è Ðdelegation€received€general,€incomplete€or€vague€answers.Ð „Ô ÐÌB.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ \¬ ÐÌ76.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€adoption€of€the€new€1999€Constitution,€which€incorporates€a€wideÐ 4„ Ðrange€of€human€rights,€including€a€number€of€the€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€enshrined€inÐ  p Ðthe€Covenant,€and€the€fact€that€article€23€of€the€Constitution€accords€with€international€human€rightsÐ  \ Ðinstruments,€to€which€Venezuela€is€a€party.Ð øH ÐÌ77.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€establishment€of€the€National€Plan€for€Human€RightsÐ Ð  Ðof€1997,€and€the€establishment€of€a€national€anti„poverty€programme.Ð ¼  ÐÌ78.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€establishment€of€an€independent€OmbudsmanððsÐ ”ä ÐOffice.Ð € Ð ÐÌ79.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€adoption€of€the€Law€on€Violence€Against€WomenÐ X"¨  Ðand€Family€in€September€1998€and€the€Equal€Opportunities€for€Women€Act€in€October1999,€andÐ D#”! Ðthe€recent€establishment€of€the€autonomous€National€Womenððs€Institute€that€will,€among€otherÐ 0$€" Ðthings,€gather€statistics€on€the€situation€of€women€in€Venezuela.Ð %l # ÐÌC.€€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantóóÐ ô&D"% ÐÌ80.€€The€Committee€notes€the€severe€floods€suffered€by€Venezuela€in€1999€and€acknowledges€theÐ Ì($' Ðimpact€they€have€had€on€the€capacity€of€the€State€party€in€guaranteeing€the€implementation€ofÐ ¸)%( Ðeconomic,€social€and€cultural€rights.Ð ¤*ô%) ÐÌ81.€€The€Committee€further€notes€that€the€recent€economic€recession€and€the€adverse€effects€ofÐ |,Ì'+ Ðstructural€adjustment€programmes€undergone€by€Venezuela€in€the€past€10€years€have€restricted€theÐ h-¸(, ÐÔ_Ôability€of€the€State€party€to€comply€with€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant.Ð ° ÐÌD.€€òòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌ82.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€State€partyððs€slowness€in€implementing€its€own€National€PlanÐ `° Ðfor€Human€Rights€and€the€Venezuelan€society€at€large€lacks€awareness€about€rights€enshrined€in€theÐ L œ ÐCovenant.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ83.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€ombudsmanððs€office€does€not€place€adequate€emphasis€onÐ  ` Ðthe€monitoring€of€the€enjoyment€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€by€the€citizens€of€Venezuela,Ð ü L  Ðespecially€by€the€indigenous€people,€and€that€there€is€no€case€law€relating€directly€to€the€provisionsÐ è 8  Ðof€the€Covenant.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ84.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€non„issuance€of€personal€documentation€to€refugees€andÐ ¬ü  Ðasylum„seekers€by€the€State€partyðð€s€authorities€seriously€hinders€their€enjoyment€of€economic,€socialÐ ˜è  Ðand€cultural€rights,€including€the€rights€to€work,€health€and€education.€€This€situation€prompted€aÐ „Ô  Ðdecision€by€the€Inter„American€Commission€on€Human€Rights€in€March2001€ordering€protectiveÐ pÀ Ðmeasures€for€287€Colombian€refugees.Ð \¬ ÐÌ85.€€The€Committee€deplores€the€discrimination€against€indigenous€people,€particularly€with€regardÐ 4„ Ðto€access€to€land€ownership,€housing,€health€services€and€sanitation,€education,€work€and€adequateÐ  p Ðnutrition.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€about€the€adverse€effects€of€the€economicÐ  \ Ðactivities€connected€with€the€exploitation€of€natural€resources,€such€as€mining€in€the€Imataca€forestÐ øH Ðreserve€and€coal„mining€in€the€Sierra€de€Perij,€on€the€health,€living€environment€and€way€of€life€ofÐ ä4 Ðthe€indigenous€populations€living€in€these€regions.Ð Ð  ÐÌ86.€€The€Committee€regrets€the€inadequacy€of€the€information€provided€with€regard€to€theÐ ¨ø Ðimplementation€of€articles6€and€7€of€the€Covenant.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€high€rateÐ ”ä Ðof€unemployment€and€lack€of€job€security€for€workers€as€hiring€practices€become€more€flexible,Ð €Ð Ðdriving€many€workers€into€the€informal€sector.Ð l¼ ÐÌ87.€€Despite€the€stipulations€in€article€91€of€the€Constitution€establishing€the€right€of€everyone€toÐ D!” Ðsufficient€wages€to€support€a€worker€and€his€family,€and€by€which€minimum€wages€are€adjustedÐ 0"€  Ðevery€year,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€minimum€wage€is€still€far€short€of€meeting€workersððÐ #l! Ðbasic€requirements,€and€that€there€are€disparities€between€urban€and€rural€wages.Ð $X" ÐÌ88.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€following€the€national€referendum€of€December€2000€on€tradeÐ à%0!$ Ðunion€reorganization,€the€entire€leadership€of€the€countryððs€union€federations€and€confederations€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðdismissed€whereas€only€union€members€can€elect€or€remove€their€leaders.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ89.€€The€Committee€is€alarmed€about€the€high€rate€of€domestic€violence€and€the€extent€of€childÐ )à$( Ðprostitution€and€trafficking€in€children,€and€regrets€the€lack€of€available€statistics€on€the€number€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðstreet€children.€€The€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€about€the€extent€of€the€sex€trade€involvingÐ h+¸&* Ðchildren€and€the€inability€of€the€State€party€to€address€these€issues.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð90.€€The€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€that€the€efforts€of€the€State€party€to€improve€the€situationÐ ° Ðof€its€people€are€inadequate,€and€that€there€is€still€an€alarmingly€high€level€of€poverty€in€Venezuela,Ð œì Ðespecially€among€the€indigenous€peoples,€and€that€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€are€notÐ ˆØ Ðintegrated€into€the€Governmentððs€anti„poverty€programme.Ð tÄ ÐÌE.€€òòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ L œ ÐÌ91.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€seek€advisory€services€from€the€Office€of€theÐ $ t ÐUnitedNations€HighCommissioner€for€HumanRights€concerning€the€overall€implementation€of€theÐ  ` ÐNational€Plan€for€Human€Rights,€and€in€particular€the€inclusion€of€economic,€social€and€culturalÐ ü L  Ðrights€of€the€Plan.Ð è 8  ÐÌ92.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€organize€an€awareness„raising€campaign€to€educate€theÐ À  Ðpublic€at€large€on€their€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€and€to€target€in€particular€magistrates,Ð ¬ü  Ðpolice€officers€and€other€responsible€officials.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ93.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€proceed€with€the€adoption€of€the€Act€establishingÐ pÀ Ðthe€ombudsmanððs€office€and€urges€the€ombudsman€to€attend€closely€to€the€promotion€and€protectionÐ \¬ Ðof€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€in€particular€with€respect€to€indigenous€communities.Ð H˜ ÐÌ94.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€ratify€the€1951€Convention€relating€to€the€StatusÐ  p Ðof€Refugees,€the€1954€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Stateless€Persons€and€the€1961Ð  \ ÐConvention€on€the€Reduction€of€Statelessness.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyÐ øH Ðissue€personal€documentation€to€asylum„seekers€in€order€to€enable€them€to€enjoy€their€basic€rightsÐ ä4 Ðunder€the€Covenant€and€to€apply€the€protective€measures€recommended€in€March2001€by€theÐ Ð  ÐInter-American€Commission€on€Human€Rights.Ð ¼  ÐÌ95.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€provide,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€detailedÐ ”ä Ðinformation€on€the€situation€of€indigenous€peoples€and€on€the€efforts,€if€any,€by€the€Government€toÐ €Ð Ðacknowledge€the€specific€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€of€the€indigenous€people€as€a€distinctÐ l¼ Ðminority€group€and€to€improve€their€situation,€in€particular€in€the€Imataca€forest€reserve€and€theÐ X ¨ ÐSierra€de€Perij.Ð D!” ÐÌ96.€€The€Committee€also€requests€the€State€party€to€provide,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€more€detailedÐ #l! Ðinformation€relating€to€articles€6€and€7€of€the€Covenant,€including€in€particular€an€account€of€the€roleÐ $X" Ðof€labour€inspectors,€and€urges€the€State€party€to€implement€the€1986€law€on€prevention,€conditionsÐ ô$D # Ðand€environment€of€work,€which€determines€safe€and€healthy€conditions€of€work.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ97.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€effective€action€to€reduce€theÐ ¸'#& Ðunemployment€rate€by,€inter€alia,€providing€training€for€young€people€and€protection€againstÐ ¤(ô#' Ðunwarranted€dismissal€for€workers,€and€by€conducting€regular€reviews€of€the€minimum€wage€levelsÐ )à$( Ðto€enable€workers€to€attain€an€adequate€standard€of€living€for€themselves€and€their€Ô_Ôfamilies.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ98.€€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€comply€with€the€recommendation€of€the€InternationalÐ T,¤'+ ÐLabour€Office€requesting€the€revocation€of€the€decisions€taken€following€the€results€of€theÐ @-(, Ðreferendum€on€trade€union€reorganization€and€to€refrain€from€making€hostile€declarations€againstÐ ° Ðindependent€trade€union€federations.€€It€also€recommends€that€the€bill€in€preparation€afford€allÐ œì Ðworkers€trade€union€freedoms€as€required€by€article€8€of€the€Covenant.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ99.€€The€Committee€invites€the€State€party€to€provide,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€updated€statisticsÐ `° Ðon€the€situation€of€women€in€Venezuela,€in€particular€on€the€phenomenon€of€domestic€violence,€asÐ L œ Ðwell€as€on€the€status€of€implementation€of€the€newly€adopted€Law€on€Violence€Against€Women€andÐ 8 ˆ ÐFamily.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€more€effective€measures€to€combat€domesticÐ $ t Ðviolence€against€women€and€children.Ð  ` ÐÌ100.€€The€Committee€also€urges€the€State€party€to€indicate,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€the€problemÐ è 8  Ðof€the€measures€it€has€undertaken€to€address€the€problem€of€street€children€and,€in€particular,€theÐ Ô$  Ðproblem€of€their€sexual€exploitation.Ð À  ÐÌ101.€€The€Committee€further€urges€the€State€party€to€seek€international€technical€assistance€in€theÐ ˜è  Ðimplementation€of€its€anti„poverty€programme.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ102.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€provide,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€detailedÐ \¬ Ðinformation€about€the€functioning€of€the€social€security€system,€the€privatization€of€the€health-careÐ H˜ Ðsystem€and€the€integration€of€vulnerable€groups,€including€indigenous€people,€into€the€health-careÐ 4„ Ðsystem.Ð  p ÐÌ103.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€implement,€with€the€assistance€of€UNESCO,Ð øH Ða€comprehensive€National€Education€for€All€Plan€as€required€by€the€Dakar€Framework€for€Action,Ð ä4 Ðadopted€at€the€World€Education€Forum€in€April€2000,€and€to€reflectinthe€plan€articles€13€and€14Ð Ð  Ðof€the€Covenant€and€the€Committeeððs€General€CommentsNo.11€(1999)€on€plans€of€action€forÐ ¼  Ðprimary€education€(art.€14€of€the€Covenant)€and€No.€13€(1999)€on€the€right€to€education€(art.€13€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthe€Covenant).Ð ”ä ÐÌ104.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€develop€a€more€elaborate€system€of€national€statisticsÐ l¼ Ðon€all€the€rights€enshrined€in€the€Covenant.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€requests€the€State€party€toÐ X ¨ Ðprovide,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€information€including€relevant€statistics€on€the€incidence€ofÐ D!” Ðviolence,€the€general€housing€situation,€forced€evictions,€and€on€the€status€of€land€reform€inÐ 0"€  ÐVenezuela.€€The€Committee€further€recommends€that€the€State€party€provide€information€on€the€stepsÐ #l! Ðtaken€in€these€respects.Ð $X" ÐÌ105.€€The€Committee€requests€that€the€State€party€disseminate€these€concluding€observations€asÐ à%0!$ Ðwidely€as€possible€among€the€State€institutions€concerned,€as€well€as€its€citizens.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ106.€€The€Committee€also€requests€the€State€party€to€address,€in€its€third€periodic€report,€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðimplementation€of€these€concluding€observations.Ð )à$( ÐÌ107.€€The€Committee€further€requests€the€State€party€to€submit€its€third€periodic€report€by30JuneÐ h+¸&* Ð2006.Ô#†X8¨XX X8¨Â#Ô