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accidents, which, in the case of the Fukushima nuclear accident, has led to negative impact
on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights of victims (arts. 11 and 12).
The Committee recommends, once again, that the State party increase transparency
on issues relating to the safety of nuclear power installations and step up its
preparedness to nuclear accidents. In particular, the Committee urges the State party
to provide the population with comprehensive, credible and accurate information on
potential hazards, preventive measures and response plans, and to ensure prompt
disclosure of all information when disasters occur.
The Committee encourages the State party to implement the recommendations of the
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health from his recent visit to the State party.
26.
The Committee is concerned about the lasting negative effects of the exploitation to
which “comfort women” were subjected on their enjoyment of economic, social and
cultural rights and their entitlement to reparation (arts. 11 and 3).
The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to
address the lasting effects of the exploitation and to guarantee the enjoyment of
economic, social and cultural rights by “comfort women”. The Committee also
recommends that the State party educate the public on the exploitation of “comfort
women” so as to prevent hate speech and other manifestations of hatred that
stigmatize them.
27.
The Committee is concerned at the exclusion of Korean schools from the State
party’s tuition fee waiver programme for high school education, which constitutes
discrimination (arts. 13 and 14).
Recalling that the prohibition against discrimination applies fully and immediately to
all aspects of education and encompasses all internationally prohibited grounds of
discrimination, the Committee calls on the State party to ensure that the tuition fee
waiver programme for high school education is extended to children attending
Korean schools.
28.
The Committee notes with concern that a large number of foreign children do not
attend school (arts. 13 and 14).
The Committee urges the State party to apply the monitoring of compulsory
education to all children in the territory of the State party, including non-nationals,
irrespective of their legal status.
29.
The Committee recommends that the State party include as soon as possible in
its tuition fee waiver programme the entrance fees and textbook costs so as to
progressively provide entirely free secondary education in accordance with article
13(b) of the Covenant.
30.
The Committee remains concerned that, in spite of the recognition of Ainu people as
indigenous people and other progress achieved, Ainu people remain disadvantaged in the
enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee is particularly concerned
that the Ainu language may be at risk of disappearance (arts. 15 and 2(2)).
The Committee recommends that the State party step up efforts to improve the
standard of living of Ainu people and implement additional special measures, in
particular in the field of employment and education. The Committee recommends that
these measures be also extended to Ainu persons residing outside the prefecture of
Hokkaido. The Committee requests the State party to include in its next periodic
report information on the results of measures taken to preserve and promote the Ainu
language.
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