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United Nations Economic and Social Council E/C.12/ISL/CO/4 Distr.: General 11 December 2012 Original: English Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concluding observations on the fourth report of Iceland, adopted by the Committee at its forty - ninth session (12-30 November 2012) 1. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the fourth periodic report of Iceland on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/ISL/4) at its 43rd and 44th meetings, held on 21 November 2012 (E/C.12/2012/SR.43-44), and adopted, at its 58th meeting held on 30 November 2012, the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the fourth periodic report of Iceland (E/C.12/ISL/4) and the replies to its list of issues (E/C.12/ISL/Q/4/Add.1). It also appreciates the constructive and frank dialogue it had with the delegation of the State party. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee notes with appreciation: (a) The high degree of gender equality in the State party; (b) The new Gender Equality Act, No.10/2008; (c) The adoption on 17 March 2009 of the National Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings; (d) The ratification in 2011 of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention). C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations 4. The Committee is concerned that the draft Constitution, presented to the Parliament following a revision process undertaken since 2010 by the Constitutional Council, does not encompass all rights as contained in the Covenant (art.2). GE.12-48614

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Concluding observations on the fourth report of Iceland, adopted by the Committee at its forty - ninth session (12-30 November 2012)

Concluding Observations

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Country

Iceland

Rights Involved

Right to adequate housing
Right to adequate standard of living
Right to education
Right to food
Right to health
Right to social security
Right to take part in cultural life
Right to work
Rights of migrants/non-citizens
Rights of older persons
Rights of persons with disabilities
Rights of the child
Rights of women and girls

Issue

Minimum core obligations
Non-discrimination
Progressive realization
Resource generation

International Human Rights Body

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Date: Dec 11, 2012

Summary: In their Concluding Observations of Iceland, the CESCR provides recommendations to the State party to take measures to address poverty, to promote gender equality, the rights to work and health, and to realize the rights of people with disabilities. The Committee reminds the State party of its obligation under the Covenant to respect, protect and fulfil economic, social and cultural rights progressively, using their maximum available resources. While realizing that some adjustments in the implementation of some of the Covenant rights are at times inevitable, such as during economic crises, it recommends that any proposed policy change or adjustment by the State party in reaction to the economic crisis (a) be of a temporary nature; (b) be necessary and proportionate; (c) not be discriminatory and comprise all possible measures, including tax measures, to support social transfers to mitigate inequalities and to ensure that the rights of the disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups are not disproportionately affected; and (d) identify a social protection floor and the minimum core content of rights, ensuring the protection of this core content of rights at all times. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its open letter on economic, social and cultural rights, and economic and financial crisis, dated 16 May 2012.

Primary Documents

E:C.12:ISL:CO:4.pdf
english
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