EU N IT E D
N A T IO N S

E co n o m ic an d S o cial
C o u n cil

Distr.
GENERAL
E/C.12/2008/2
24 March 2009
Original: ENGLISH

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIALAND CULTURAL RIGHTSG U ID E L IN E S O N T R E A T Y -S P E C IF IC D O C U M E N T S T O B E S U B M IT T E D B Y
S T A T E S P A R T IE S U N D E R A R T IC L E S 16 A N D 17 O F T H E IN T E R N A T IO N A L
C O V E N A N T O N E C O N O M IC , S O C IA L A N D C U L T U R A L R IG H T S 1

N ote b y th e S ecretary-G en eral
1. In accordance with article 17 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social andCultural Rights, the Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 1988 (LX) of 11
May 1976, established a programme under which the States parties to the Covenant
would furnish in stages the reports referred to in article 16 of the Covenant and theSecretary-General, at the Council's request, subsequently drew up an appropriate setof general guidelines. In response to the introduction of a new reporting cycle, theCommittee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, at its fifth session, held from26 November to 14 December 1990, adopted a set of revised general guidelines
which replaced the original guidelines.
2. The purpose of reporting guidelines is to advise States parties on the form andcontent of their reports, so as to facilitate the preparation of reports and ensure thatreports are comprehensive and presented in a uniform manner by States parties.

1. Adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its 49th
meeting (forty-first session) on 18 November 2008, taking into consideration theguidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents, as containedin the harmonized guidelines ((HRI/GEN/2/Rev.5).
GE.09-41339

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Page 2
3. The Committee has decided to replace the revised general guidelines (E/C.12/1991/1)
by the present guidelines to take into account the harmonized guidelines on reporting
under the international human rights treaties (HRI/GEN/2/Rev.5), as well as theevolving practice of the Committee in relation to the application of the Covenant, as
reflected in its concluding observations, general comments and statements.
4. The text of the guidelines on treaty-specific documents to be submitted by States
parties under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant is contained in the annex to thepresent document.

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 3ANNEX
G u id elin es on treaty-sp ecific d ocu m en ts
to b e su b m itted b y S tates p arties u n d er articles 16 an d 17 ofth e In tern ation al C oven an t on E con om ic,
S ocial an d C u ltu ral R igh ts
A . T h e revised rep ortin g system an d organ ization of in form ation to b e in clu d ed inth e com m on core d ocu m en t an d in th e treaty-sp ecific d ocu m en t su b m itted to th e
C om m ittee on E con om ic, S ocial an d C u ltu ral R igh ts
1. State reports submitted under the harmonized guidelines on reporting under theinternational human rights treaties consist of two parts: a common core document andtreaty-specific documents. The common core document should contain general
information about the reporting State, the general framework for the protection andpromotion of human rights, as well as information on non-discrimination and equality,and effective remedies, in accordance with the harmonized guidelines.

2. The treaty-specific document submitted to the Committee on Economic, Social andCultural Rights should not repeat information included in the common core document or
merely list or describe the legislation adopted by the State party. Rather, it should
contain specific information relating to the implementation, in law and in fact, of articles
1 to 15 of the Covenant, taking into account the general comments of the Committee, as
well as information on recent developments in law and practice affecting the full
realization of the rights recognized in the Covenant. It should also contain informationon the concrete measures taken towards that goal, and the progress achieved, including –except for initial treaty-specific documents – information on the steps taken to address
issues raised by the Committee in the concluding observations on the State party’s
previous report, or in its general comments.
3. In relation to the rights recognized in the Covenant, the treaty-specific document
should indicate:(a) Whether the State party has adopted a national framework law, policies andstrategies for the implementation of each Covenant right, identifying theresources available for that purpose and the most cost-effective ways of using
such resources;(b) Any mechanisms in place to monitor progress towards the full realization of theCovenant rights, including identification of indicators and related national
benchmarks in relation to each Covenant right, in addition to the information
provided under appendix 3 of the harmonized guidelines and taking into accountthe framework and tables of illustrative indicators outlined by the Office of theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)(HRI/MC/2008/3);(c) Mechanisms in place to ensure that a State party’s obligations under theCovenant are fully taken into account in its actions as a member of internationalorganizations and international financial institutions, as well as when negotiating
and ratifying international agreements, in order to ensure that economic, social

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 4and cultural rights, particularly of the most disadvantaged and marginalizedgroups, are not undermined;(d) The incorporation and direct applicability of each Covenant right in the domestic
legal order, with reference to specific examples of relevant case law;(e) The judicial and other appropriate remedies in place enabling victims to obtainredress in case their Covenant rights have been violated;(f) Structural or other significant obstacles arising from factors beyond the State
party’s control which impede the full realization of the Covenant rights;(g) Statistical data on the enjoyment of each Covenant right, disaggregated by age,gender, ethnic origin, urban/rural population and other relevant status, on anannual comparative basis over the past five years.
4. The treaty-specific document should be accompanied by a sufficient number of copies
in one of the working languages of the Committee (English, French, Russian andSpanish) of all other supplementary documentation which the State party may wish tohave distributed to all members of the Committee to facilitate the consideration of thereport.
5. If a State party is party to any of the ILO Conventions listed in appendix 2 of theharmonized guidelines, or to any other relevant conventions of United Nations
specialized agencies, and has already submitted reports to the supervisory committee(s)concerned that are relevant to any of the rights recognized in the Covenant, it should
append the respective parts of those reports rather than repeat the information in thetreaty-specific document. However, all matters which arise under the Covenant and are
not fully covered in those reports should be dealt with in the present treaty-specificdocument.
6. Periodic reports should address directly the suggestions and recommendations of theprevious concluding observations.

B . P art of th e treaty-sp ecific d ocu m en t su b m itted to th e C om m ittee relatin g to
gen eral p rovision s of th e C oven an t
A rticle 1 of th e C oven an t
7. In what manner has the right to self-determination been implemented?
8. Indicate the ways and means by which the State party recognizes and protects therights of indigenous communities, if any, to ownership of the lands and territories which
they traditionally occupy or use as traditional sources of livelihood.2 Also indicate theextent to which indigenous and local communities are duly consulted, and whether theirprior informed consent is sought, in any decision-making processes affecting their rights
and interests under the Covenant, and provide examples.

2

General comment 12, para. 13; general comment 14, para. 27.

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A rticle 2
9. Indicate the impact of international economic and technical assistance and cooperation, whether received or provided by the State party, on the full realization of eachof the Covenant rights in the State party or, as the case may be, in other countries,
especially developing countries.
10. In addition to information provided in the common core document ( paras. 50 to 58
of the harmonized guidelines), provide disaggregated and comparative statistical data on
the effectiveness of specific anti-discrimination measures and the progress achieved
towards ensuring equal enjoyment of each of the Covenant rights by all, in particular the
disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups.
11. If the State party is a developing country, provide information on any restrictions
imposed under article 2, paragraph 3, of the Covenant, on the enjoyment by nonnationals of the economic rights recognized in the Covenant.
A rticle 3
12. What steps have been taken to eliminate direct and indirect discrimination based on
sex in relation to each of the rights recognized in the Covenant, and to ensure that men
and women enjoy these rights on a basis of equality, in law and in fact?
13. Indicate whether the State party has adopted gender equality legislation and theprogress achieved in the implementation of such legislation. Also indicate whether any
gender-based assessment of the impact of legislation and policies has been undertaken to
overcome traditional cultural stereotypes that continue to negatively affect the equalenjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by men and women.
A rticles 4 an d 5
14. See paragraph 40 (c) of the harmonized guidelines on a common core document.

C . P art of th e rep ort relatin g to sp ecific righ ts
A rticle 6
15. Provide information on effective measures taken to reduce unemployment including
on:(a) The impact of targeted employment programmes in place to achieve full andproductive employment among persons and groups considered particularly
disadvantaged, in particular women, young persons, older persons, persons withdisabilities and ethnic minorities, in rural and deprived urban areas; and(b) The impact of measures to facilitate re-employment of workers, especiallywomen and long-term unemployed workers, who are made redundant as a result ofprivatization, downsizing and economic restructuring of public and private enterprises.

E/C.12/2008/2
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16. Provide information on work in the informal economy in the State party, including
its extent and the sectors with a large percentage of informal workers, and the measurestaken to enable them to move out of the informal economy, as well as on measures taken
to ensure access by informal workers, in particular older workers and women, to basic
services and social protection.
17. Describe the legal safeguards in place to protect workers from unfair dismissal.
18. Indicate what technical and vocational training programmes are in place in the State
party and their impact on empowering the workforce, especially disadvantaged andmarginalized individuals, to enter or re-enter the labour market.
A rticle 7
19. Indicate whether a national minimum wage has been legally established, and specify
the categories of workers to which it applies, as well as the number of persons coveredby each category. If any category of workers is not covered by the national minimum
wage, explain the reasons why. In addition, indicate:(a) Whether a system of indexation and regular adjustment is in place to ensurethat the minimum wage is periodically reviewed and determined at a level sufficient toprovide all workers, including those who are not covered by a collective agreement, andtheir families, with an adequate standard of living; and(b) Any alternative mechanisms in place, in the absence of a national minimum
wage, to ensure that all workers receive wages sufficient to provide an adequate standardof living for themselves and their families.
20. Provide information on working conditions for all workers, including overtime, paid
and unpaid leave and on the measures taken to reconcile professional, family andpersonal life.
21. Indicate the impact of the measures taken to ensure that women with the same
qualifications do not work in lower-paid positions than men, in accordance with theprinciple of equal pay for work of equal value.
22. Indicate whether the State party has adopted and effectively implemented legislationthat specifically criminalizes sexual harassment in the workplace, and describe themechanisms to monitor such implementation. Also indicate the number of registeredcases, the sanctions imposed on perpetrators and the measures taken to compensate andassist victims of sexual harassment.
23. Indicate what legal, administrative or other provisions have been taken to ensure
safety and healthy conditions at the workplace and their enforcement in practice.

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Page 7
A rticle 8
24. Indicate:(a) What substantive or formal conditions, if any, must be fulfilled to form or
join the trade union of one's choice. Also indicate whether there are any restrictions on
the exercise of the right to form or join trade unions by workers, and how they have been
applied in practice; and(b) How trade unions are guaranteed independence toorganize their activities without interference, as well as to federate and join international
trade union organizations, and the legal and de facto restrictions, if any, on the exerciseof this right.
25. Provide information on collective bargaining mechanisms in the State party and theirimpact on labour rights.
26. Indicate:(a) Whether the right to strike is constitutionally or legally guaranteed and towhat extent such guarantees are observed in practice;(b) Any restrictions on the right to strike in the public and private sectors andtheir application in practice; and(c) The definition of essential services for which strikes may be prohibited.
A rticle 9
27. Indicate whether there is universal social security coverage in the State party. Also
indicate which of the following branches of social security are covered: health care,sickness, old age, unemployment, employment injury, family and child support,maternity, disability, and survivors and orphans.3
28. Indicate whether there are legally established and periodically reviewed minimum
amounts of benefits, including pensions, and whether they are sufficient to ensure anadequate standard of living for recipients and their families.4
29. Indicate whether the social security system also guarantees non-contributory social
assistance allowances for disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and families who
are not covered by the contributory schemes.5
30. Indicate whether the public social security schemes described above aresupplemented by any private schemes or informal arrangements.6 If so, describe theseschemes and arrangements and their inter-relationship with the public schemes.

3

General comment 19, para. 12 (a) to (i).
Ibid., paras. 22 and 59 (a).
5
Ibid., paras. 4 (b) and 50.
6Ibid., para. 5.
4

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 831. Indicate if there is equal enjoyment by men and women of pension rights as regards
the age of access,7 qualifying periods and amounts.
32. Provide information on social security programmes, including informal schemes, toprotect workers in the informal economy, in particular in relation to health care,maternity and old age.8
33. Indicate to what extent non-nationals benefit from non-contributory schemes forincome support, access to health care and family support.9
A rticle 10
34. Indicate how the State party guarantees the right of men and, particularly, women toenter into marriage with their full and free consent and to establish a family.
35. Provide information on the availability, coverage and funding of social services tosupport families, as well as on legal provisions in place to ensure equal opportunities for
all families, in particular poor families, families from ethnic minorities, and single parent
families, in relation to:(a) Child care;10 and(b) Social services that enable older persons and persons with disabilities toremain in their normal living environment for as long as possible11 and to receive
adequate health and social care when they are dependent.
36. Provide information on the system of maternity protection in the State party,
including working conditions and prohibition of dismissal during pregnancy. In
particular, indicate:(a) Whether it also applies to women involved in atypical work12 and women
who are not covered by work-related maternity benefits;(b) The duration of paid maternity leave before and after confinement and thecash, medical and other support measures provided during pregnancy, confinement andafter childbirth;13 and(c) Whether paternity leave is granted to men, and parental leave to men andwomen.14
37. Indicate the measures of protection and assistance taken on behalf of children andyoung persons, including:
7

General comment 16, para. 26 and general comment 19, para. 32.
General comment 19, paras. 16 and 34.
9Ibid., para. 37.
10Ibid., paras. 18 and 28; general comment 5, para. 30; general comment 6, para. 31.
11
General comment 19, paras. 15, 18 and 20; general comment 5, para. 30; general comment 6, para. 31.
12
General comment 19, para. 19.
13
Idem.
14
General comment 16, para. 26; see also draft general comment 20, paras. 10 (b) (vii) and 16.
8

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 9(a) Age limits below which the paid employment of children in different
occupations is prohibited under the law of the State party and the application of criminallaw provisions in place punishing the employment of under-aged children and the use offorced labour of children;15(b) Whether any national survey has been undertaken in the State party on thenature and extent of child labour and whether there is a national action plan to combat
child labour; and(c) The impact of measures taken to protect children against work in hazardous
conditions harmful to their health and against exposure to various forms of violence andexploitation.16
38. Provide information on the legislation and mechanisms in place to protect theeconomic, social and cultural rights of older persons in the State party, in particular on
the implementation of laws and programmes against abuse, abandon, negligence and illtreatment of older persons.
39. Provide information on the economic and social rights of asylum seekers and theirfamilies and on legislation and mechanisms in place for family reunification of migrants.
40. Indicate:(a) Whether there is legislation in the State party that specifically criminalizes
acts of domestic violence, in particular violence against women and children,17 including
marital rape and sexual abuse of women and children and the number of registered cases,
as well as the sanctions imposed on perpetrators;(b) Whether there is a national action plan to combat domestic violence, and themeasures in place to support and rehabilitate victims;18 and(c) Public awareness-raising measures and training for law enforcement officials
and other involved professionals on the criminal nature of acts of domestic violence.
41. Indicate:(a) Whether there is legislation in the State party that specifically criminalizes
trafficking in persons and the mechanisms in place to monitor its strict enforcement.
Also indicate the number of reported trafficking cases from, to and through the State
party, as well as the sentences imposed on perpetrators; and(b) Whether there is a national plan of action to combat trafficking and themeasures taken to support victims, including medical, social and legal assistance.

15

General comment 18, para. 24.
Ibid., para. 15.
17
General comment 16, para. 27; general comment 14, paras. 21 and 51.
18
General comment 16, para. 27.
16

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A rticle 11
A . T h e righ t to th e con tin u ou s im p rovem en t of livin g con d ition s
42. Indicate whether the State party has defined a national poverty line and on what
basis it is calculated. In the absence of a poverty line, what mechanisms are used formeasuring and monitoring the incidence and depth of poverty?
43. Indicate:(a) Whether the State party has adopted a national action plan or strategy tocombat poverty that fully integrates economic, social and cultural rights19 and whether
specific mechanisms and procedures are in place to monitor the implementation of theplan or strategy and evaluate the progress achieved in effectively combating poverty;
and(b) Targeted policies and programmes to combat poverty, including among
women and children, and the economic and social exclusion of individuals and families
belonging to the disadvantaged and marginalized groups, in particular ethnic minorities,
indigenous peoples and those living in rural and deprived urban areas.
B . T h e righ t to ad eq u ate food
44. Provide information on the measures taken to ensure the availability of affordable
food in quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of everyone, free fromadverse substances, and culturally acceptable.20
45. Indicate the measures taken to disseminate knowledge of the principles of nutrition,
including of healthy diets.
46. Indicate the measures taken to promote equality of access by the disadvantaged andmarginalized individuals and groups, including landless peasants and persons belonging
to minorities, to food, land, credit, natural resources and technology for foodproduction.21
47. Indicate whether the State party has adopted or envisages the adoption, within a
specified time frame, of the ‘Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realizationof the right to adequate food in the context of national food security’.22 If not, explain
the reasons why.

19

See Committee’s Statement on poverty and the International Covenant on Economic, Social andCultural Rights (2001).
20
General comment 12, para. 8.
21
General comment 15, para. 7.
22Adopted by the 127th session of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, November 2004.

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Page 11
C . T h e righ t to w ater
48. Indicate:(a) The measures taken to ensure adequate and affordable access to water that is
sufficient and safe for personal and domestic uses for everyone;23(b) The percentage of households without access to sufficient and safe water inthe dwelling or within its immediate vicinity, disaggregated by region and urban/rural
population24 and the measures taken to improve the situation;(c) The measures taken to ensure that water services, whether privately or
publicly provided, are affordable for everyone;25 and(d) The system in place to monitor the quality of water.26
49. Provide information on education concerning the hygienic use of water, protection ofwater sources and methods to minimize water wastage.27
D . T h e righ t to ad eq u ate h ou sin g
50. Indicate whether a national survey on homelessness and inadequate housing has been
undertaken, as well as its findings, in particular the number of individuals and families
who are homeless or inadequately housed and without access to basic infrastructures andservices such as water, heating, waste disposal, sanitation, and electricity, as well as thenumber of persons living in over-crowded or structurally unsafe housing.
51. Indicate:(a) The measures taken to ensure access to adequate and affordable housing withlegal security of tenure for everyone, irrespective of income or access to economic
resources;(b) The impact of social housing measures, such as the provision of low-costsocial housing units for disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and families, inparticular in rural and deprived urban areas, whether there are waiting lists for obtaining
such housing and the average length of waiting time;(c) Measures taken to make housing accessible and habitable for persons withspecial housing needs, such as families with children, older persons28 and persons withdisabilities;29

23

General comment 15, paras. 12 (a) and 37 (a); general comment 14, para. 43 (c).
General comment 15, paras. 12 (c) (i) and 37 (c).
25
Ibid., paras. 24 and 27.
26
Ibid., para. 12 (b).
27
Ibid., para. 25.
28
GCGeneral comment 6, para. 33.
29
Idem.
24

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Page 12
52. Indicate the legislative and other measures in place to ensure that housing is not built
on polluted sites or in immediate proximity of pollution sources that threaten the healthof inhabitants.30
53. Indicate whether there are any disadvantaged and marginalized individuals andgroups, such as ethnic minorities, who are particularly affected by forced evictions andthe measures taken to ensure that no form of discrimination is involved wheneverevictions take place.31
54. Indicate the number of persons and families evicted within the last five years and thelegal provisions defining the circumstances in which evictions may take place and therights of tenants to security of tenure and protection from eviction.32
A rticle 12
55. Indicate whether the State party has adopted a national health policy and whether anational health system with universal access to primary health care is in place.
56. Provide information on the measures taken to ensure:(a) That preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health facilities, goods andservices are within safe reach and physically accessible for everyone, including older
persons and persons with disabilities;33(b) That the costs of health-care services and health insurance, whether privately
or publicly provided, are affordable for everyone, including for socially disadvantaged
groups;34(c) That drugs and medical equipment are scientifically approved and have not
expired or become ineffective; and(d) Adequate training of health personnel, including on health and humanrights.35
57. Provide information on the measures taken:(a) To improve child and maternal health, as well as sexual and reproductive
health services and programmes, including through education, awareness-raising, andaccess to family planning, pre- and post-natal care and emergency obstetric services, inparticular in rural areas and for women belonging to disadvantaged and marginalizedgroups;36

30

General comment 4, para. 8 (f).
General comment 7, para. 10.
32
Ibid., paras. 9, 13-15, 16 and 19; see also Basic principles and guidelines on development-based
evictions and displacement (A/HRC/4/18, annex 1).
33
General comment 14, para. 12 (b).
34
Ibid., paras. 12 (b), 19 and 36.
35
Ibid., paras. 12 (d) and 44 (e).
36
Ibid., paras. 14, 21-23 and 44 (a).
31

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 13(b) To prevent, treat and control diseases linked to water and ensure access toadequate sanitation;37(c) To implement and enhance immunization programmes and other strategies ofinfectious disease control;38(d) To prevent the abuse of alcohol and tobacco, and the use of illicit drugs andother harmful substances, in particular among children and adolescents, ensure adequate
treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, and support their families;39(e) To prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, educate highrisk groups, children and adolescents as well as the general public on their transmission,
provide support to persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, and reduce social stigma
and discrimination;40(f) To ensure affordable access to essential drugs, as defined by the WHO,
including anti-retroviral medicines and medicines for chronic diseases;41 and(g) To ensure adequate treatment and care in psychiatric facilities for mental
health patients, as well as periodic review and effective judicial control of confinement.
A rticle 13
58. Indicate to what extent the form and substance of education in the State party are
directed towards the aims and objectives identified in article 13, paragraph 1, 42 andwhether school curricula include education on economic, social and cultural rights.
59. Indicate how the obligation to provide primary education that is compulsory andavailable free for all is implemented in the State party, in particular:(a) The level or grade until which education is compulsory and free for all;(b) Any direct costs such as school fees, as well as the measures taken toeliminate them; and(c) Any indirect costs (e.g. expenses for school books, uniforms, transport,
special fees such as exam fees, contributions to district education boards, etc.) and themeasures taken to alleviate the impact of such costs on children from poorer households.
60. Indicate the measures taken to make secondary education in its different forms,
including technical and vocational education, generally available and accessible to all,including:37

General comment 15, paras. 8 and 37 (i).
General comment 14, paras. 16 and 44 (b)39
Ibid., para. 16.
40
Ibid., para. 16.
41
Ibid., para. 43 (d).
42General comment 13, paras. 4-5 and 49.
38

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 14(a) Concrete steps taken by the State party towards progressively achieving freesecondary education;43 and(b) The availability of technical and vocational education, and whether it enables
students to acquire knowledge and skills which contribute to their personal development,
self-reliance and employability.44
61. Indicate the measures taken to make higher education equally accessible to all andwithout discrimination, on the basis of capacity, and the concrete steps taken towards
progressively achieving free higher education.45
62. Indicate the measures taken to promote literacy, as well as adult and continuing
education, in a life-long perspective.
63. Indicate whether minority and indigenous children have adequate opportunities toreceive instruction in or of their native language and the steps taken to prevent lower
educational standards for these children,46 their segregation in special classes, and their
exclusion from mainstream education.
64. Indicate the measures taken to ensure the same admission criteria for boys and girls
at all levels of education,47 and to raise awareness among parents, teachers and decisionmakers on the value of educating girls.48
65. Indicate the measures taken to reduce the drop-out rates, at the primary andsecondary levels, for children and young persons, in particular girls, children from ethnic
minorities, indigenous communities and poorer households, as well as migrant, refugee
and internally displaced children.
A rticle 14
66. If compulsory and free primary education is not currently enjoyed in the State party,
provide information on the required plan of action49 for the progressive implementation,
within a reasonable number of years fixed in this plan, of this right. Also indicate any
particular difficulties encountered, in the adoption and implementation of this plan ofaction, as well as the measures taken to overcome these difficulties.
A rticle 15
67. Provide information on the institutional infrastructure to promote popularparticipation in, and access to, cultural life, especially at the community level, including
in rural and deprived urban areas. In this regard, indicate the measures taken to promote

43

Ibid., para. 14.
Ibid., paras. 15-16.
45
Ibid., para. 20.
46
Ibid., para. 30.
47
General comment 16, para. 30.
48
Idem.
49
In general comment 11, paragraph 11, the Committee asks States parties to submit their plans of action
as an integral part of the reports required under the Covenant.
44E/C.12/2008/2
Page 15
broad participation in, and access to, cultural goods, institutions and activities, including
measures taken:(a) To ensure that access to concerts, theatre, cinema, sport events and othercultural activities is affordable for all segments of the population;(b) To enhance access to the cultural heritage of mankind, including through new
information technologies such as the Internet;(c) To encourage participation in cultural life by children, including children
from poorer families, and migrant or refugee children; and(d) To eliminate physical, social and communication barriers preventing older
persons and persons with disabilities from fully participating in cultural life.50
68. Indicate the measures taken to protect cultural diversity, promote awareness of thecultural heritage of ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and of indigenous
communities, and create favourable conditions for them to preserve, develop, express
and disseminate their identity, history, culture, language, traditions and customs.
69. Provide information on school and professional education in the field of culture andthe arts.
70. Indicate:(a) The measures taken to ensure affordable access to the benefits of scientificprogress and its applications for everyone, including disadvantaged and marginalized
individuals and groups; and(b) The measures taken to prevent the use of scientific and technical progress forpurposes which are contrary to the enjoyment of human dignity and human rights.
71. Indicate the measures taken to ensure the effective protection of the moral andmaterial interests of creators,51 in particular:(a) To protect the right of authors to be recognized as the creators and for theprotection of the integrity of their scientific, literary and artistic productions;52(b) To protect the basic material interests of authors resulting from theirproductions, which enable them to enjoy an adequate standard of living;53(c) To ensure the protection of the moral and material interests of indigenous
peoples relating to their cultural heritage and traditional knowledge;54 and50

General comment 5, paras. 36-38; general comment 6, paras. 39-41.
General comment 17, paras. 39 (a).
52
Ibid., para. 39 (b).
53
Ibid., para. 39 (c).
54
Ibid., para. 32.
51

E/C.12/2008/2
Page 16(d) To strike an adequate balance between the effective protection of the moral
and material interests of authors and the State party’s obligations in relation to the otherrights recognized in the Covenant.55
72. Indicate the legal provisions in place to protect the freedom indispensable forscientific research and creative activity and any restrictions on the exercise of thisfreedom.
73. Indicate the measures taken for the conservation, development and diffusion ofscience and culture and to encourage and develop international contacts and cooperation in the scientific and cultural fields.
-----

55

Ibid., para. 39 (e).