ld - 23 - 99-10641s4 E/CN.4/1999/48 E/CN.4/1999/48 page 23 In addition, a guaranteed minimum income was established under an Act dated 1 September 1998 and in agreement with IMF, although it is very low (32,400 leva - 32 DM - per month). 102. Nevertheless, insufficient attention is paid to certain vulnerable groups such as the disabled, street children, those who have no access to school and Gypsy children, as well as very poor women - female unemployment in Bulgaria having risen from 52 per cent to 68 per cent. 103. The role of the National Council on Ethnic Problems should be promoted in order to increase direct participation by the socially excluded. The role of local communities in identifying poverty and providing welfare should also be developed. Lastly, the growing role of mafias and corruption rings should be carefully monitored, since their members are recruited from among the most disadvantaged. C. Yemen 104. The independent expert visited Yemen between 11 and 14 November 1998 and met with high authorities and officials in charge of social welfare programmes. The National Report on Human Development for 1998 showed that social services expenditure has gone down, particularly in the health and education sectors, and that increased poverty has affected 51 per cent of the population. Between 1991 and 1996, wages also dropped by 70 per cent. The World Bank is blamed for not having protected the education and health budgets. On the other hand, it has taken positive action through the Social Development Fund, supporting microfinance, community programmes and the strengthening of civil institutions. 105. The Government has initiated a literacy programme, which also targets women; a birth control programme (which is not felt to be very effective, mainly owing to the cost of contraceptives); and the Social Development Fund, which provides the very poor with a minimum income of 100 rials (approximately US$ 1), to offset the effects of the World Bank's structural adjustment programme. 106. The Government has also established a National Human Rights Commission under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose priorities are information on the rights of the child (radio and television campaign); information on education for girls (the same type of campaign); the separation of adolescents and adults in prisons; and the situation of women prisoners, many of whom are rejected by their families because they have been accused of adultery and whose only hope of survival is to stay in prison. 107. Lastly, a Social Welfare Fund provides social welfare in Yemen following the principles of decentralization and information. In 1999 the Fund's beneficiaries will number 350,000 of whom 70 per cent will be women (widows, divorcees or with no family). D. Proposals for action and results of experience 108. Table 1 below shows the legislative initiatives to be promoted in combating poverty; table 2 reveals the relationship between human rights and extreme poverty.