E/C.12/RUS/CO/6 areas. The Committee reiterates its recommendation to adopt and effectively implement a national strategy integrating economic, social and cultural rights to combat poverty, in accordance with the Committee’s statement on poverty and the Covenant, adopted on 4 May 2001. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party improve its data-collection system, and collect data on poverty prevalence disaggregated by, among others, ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples. Right to housing 46. The Committee notes the measures taken by the State party to increase the availability of affordable housing, including through the family housing programme. It remains, however, concerned about the shortage of social and affordable housing. The Committee is also concerned about the poor housing conditions of Roma, most of whom live in illegal settlements lacking access to basic services. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned about the punitive approach taken by the State party towards Roma illegal settlements, manifested by house demolitions and forced evictions, carried out in many instances without guarantees for due process and resulting in homelessness (art. 11). 47. The Committee recommends that the State party continue, and step up, its efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, paying particular attention to low-income families, and allocate the necessary resources for the effective implementation of the family housing programme. The Committee urges the State party to pursue a comprehensive and human rights-based approach for the development of adequate housing conditions for Roma. In that regard, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Engage in an open and meaningful dialogue with Roma representatives with a view to significantly improving their housing conditions; (b) Prioritize efforts towards finding lasting solutions for Roma settlements, including through legalization, where possible, and extension of the coverage of basic services to Roma settlements; (c) Take legislative and administrative measures to provide for legal safeguards against arbitrary forced evictions, while incorporating provisions for compensation and alternative housing, and ensure that house demolitions and forced evictions are only used as a last resort; (d) Take into account the Committee’s general comments No. 4 (1991) on the right to adequate housing and No. 7 (1997) on forced evictions. Land expropriation 48. The Committee is concerned about the amendment of April 2015 to the Land Code that empowers authorities to confiscate land at the request of third parties, particularly extractive industry companies, thereby potentially placing business interests above people’s right to an adequate standard of living (art. 11). 49. The Committee urges the State party to take the necessary legislative and administrative steps to guarantee the availability of effective legal safeguards against arbitrary land expropriation infringing on Covenant rights. The Committee also recommends that the State party take measures to ensure that such safeguards are known by, and accessible to, the public at large, and ensure that alternative housing and compensation are provided to the affected population, including Roma and indigenous peoples, with a view to preventing loss of access to productive resources and homelessness. Drug policy 50. The Committee is concerned about the high level of drug use in the State party and that the State party essentially applies a punitive approach to address drug problems. The Committee is particularly concerned that drug users tend to refrain from seeking medical treatment under the policy of criminalization, which contributes to increased incarceration of drug users. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of harm reduction 8