COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Pre-sessional working group26-30 May 2003

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

List of issues to be taken up in connection with the considerationof the fourth periodic report of DENMARK concerning the rights referred to in articles 1-15 of the International Covenant onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/4/Add.12)

* Re-issued for technical reasons

GE.04-43658

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.Please indicate the position of the Government as to the recommendation of the “Incorporation Committee” not to recommend the incorporation of the Covenant into the domestic law.

II.ISSUES RELATING TO THE GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE COVENANT (arts. 1-5)

Article 1. Self-determination

2.Please indicate if the transfer of powers to the Home Rule in Greenland is based on the exercise by the people of this territory of their rights to self-determination. If so, please indicate in what manner the will of the people of Greenland was ascertained, including where it concerns the list of “non-transferable fields”, as described in the report.

3.Please describe the legislative and other measures taken with a view to ensuring the right of the populations of Greenland and the Faroe Islands to freely dispose of their natural resources.

Article 2. Non-discrimination

4.Please indicate to what extent the State party has guaranteed the rights enshrined in the Covenant to non-nationals, especially immigrants and refugees.

5.Please provide information about Danish legislation and measures taken against organizations and groups that advocate xenophobia and incite people to commit criminal acts against others because of their race or religion.

Article 3. Equality between men and women

6.Please provide information about the progress achieved in the field of equality between men and women, in particular in the field of remuneration for work, as well as in eliminating obstacles to acceding to higher employment and professional levels.

III. ISSUES RELATING TO SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE COVENANT (arts. 6-15)

Article 6. Right to work

7.Please discuss the initiatives and specific measures taken to increase employment opportunities for immigrants and other foreign minorities.

8.With reference to paragraphs 101-110 of the fourth periodic report, please provide disaggregated statistics about the number of persons having participated in technical and vocational training programmes and about the percentage of those who obtained employment thereafter.

9.Please provide more information, including statistical data, about the levels of employment and unemployment in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

10.With reference to paragraph 224 of the report, relating to the proposed amendment to the Act on “Active Social Policy” and the “Act of Integrated Foreigners” in Denmark, please clarify whether foreigners in Denmark are treated the same as Danish citizens with respect to conditions of eligibility for and levels of the “starting allowance”. Please also provide information about the number of non-nationals receiving starting allowance and who have succeeded in getting paid employment.

Article 8. Trade union rights

11.With reference to the situation described in paragraphs 145-148 of the report, please provide information on whether the negotiated agreements were eventually accepted by the teachers’ trade union or association.

Article 10. Protection of the family, mothers and children

12.Please provide information about the measures taken to combat child pornography, sexual exploitation of children and trafficking in persons.

Article 11. Right to adequate standard of living

13.Please provide more information about homeless people and the measures undertaken to address the problem of homelessness. In particular, please provide information about measures taken by the authorities in order to deal with the problems of different categories of homeless people, such as substance abusers, including alcohol abusers, persons with mental disabilities and persons released from institutions.

14.Please provide more information about the progress made in the implementation of the urban renewal projects (paras. 359-361). More specifically, please indicate how the rights of the residents are protected during the execution of the projects and if the rent is raised following the renovation.

Article 12. Right to health

15.Please provide information about the measures taken by the Government to reduce the health risks of substance abuse, including tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse. More specifically, please describe the prevention programmes, including youth education for a healthy lifestyle.

Article 13. Right to education

16.Please provide information on the measures taken in the field of education in Denmark to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations and racial, ethnic and religious groups.

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