E/C.12/UGA/CO/1
(d)
Limited inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools, the
absence of targeted training for teachers and the high expenses associated with enrolling
these children in schools for children with special needs, which leads to them dropping out
(arts. 13 and 14).
Recalling its general comment No. 13 (1999) on the right to education, the
Committee recommends that the State party assume primary responsibility for the
provision of quality education to all children. To this end it should:
(a)
Develop and effectively implement plans aimed at
discouraging
children, girls in particular, from dropping out of school and provide the support
services necessary to enable pregnant adolescents to continue their education;
(b)
Allocate sufficient resources to the education sector with a view to
improving the infrastructure of schools, including with regard to sanitation, the
working conditions of teachers and teaching materials;
(c)
Strengthen regulations and expand
mechanisms for private education institutions;
monitoring
and
oversight
(d)
Urgently take measures to ensure inclusive education of children with
disabilities, including through compulsory training of teachers (beyond specialeducation teachers), and barrier-free physical access to schools and their facilities.
Cultural rights
37.
The Committee is concerned about the absence of a separate budget for culture in
the State party and the insufficient allocation of resources to local bodies to promote
cultural activities. It is also concerned about the limited scope for the exercise of cultural
rights by indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities. It is particularly concerned about the
information that the Batwa culture is at risk of extinction (art. 15).
The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 21 (2009) on
the right of everyone to take part in cultural life. The Committee encourages the State
party to consider allocating adequate resources to culture, including to local bodies in
order to promote cultural activities and ensure protection of traditional knowledge
and skills, in particular for women. It also recommends that the State party pay
particular attention to the promotion and preservation of cultural rights of indigenous
peoples and ethnic minorities, including the Batwa culture.
D.
Other recommendations
38.
The Committee recommends that the State party consider ratifying the
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights.
39.
The Committee also recommends that the State party consider ratifying the
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance.
40.
The Committee notes the information provided by the delegation about the
many challenges faced by the State party in implementing its treaty obligations. In
order to improve the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, the
Committee recommends that the State party, apart from stepping up its own efforts to
generate additional resources at the domestic level, increase its efforts to seek
international cooperation and assistance. In this connection the Committee draws the
State party’s attention to its general comment No. 3 (1991) on the nature of States
parties’ obligations.
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