E/C.12/HND/CO/2 Poverty 39. The Committee is concerned by the continuing high rates of poverty and extreme poverty in the State party, especially among indigenous peoples, Hondurans of African descent and persons living in rural areas. It is also concerned by the continued inequality in income and wealth in the State party (art. 11). 40. Bearing in mind its 2001 statement on poverty and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Step up its efforts to fight poverty, especially extreme poverty, by adopting a national action plan for poverty reduction that includes a human rights perspective, pays due attention to the differences and gaps that exist between urban and rural areas and is sufficiently resourced; (b) Adopt effective measures to address inequality, bearing in mind the needs of the most disadvantaged and marginalized sectors of society, in particular low-income groups, indigenous peoples, Hondurans of African descent and persons living in rural areas. Land conflicts and forced evictions 41. The Committee is concerned by the impact that land-grabbing and the hoarding of natural resources have had in the State party, as those practices have triggered serious conflicts, in particular in the Lower Aguán Valley, and have significantly hindered communities’ enjoyment of the right to adequate food and the right to water. The Committee is concerned by the information received about the high number of peasant families who have been forcibly evicted or who are facing the risk of being forcibly evicted not only by the police but also by the armed forces and private security officers (art. 11). 42. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take the necessary steps to ensure fair access to land and natural resources, including the safeguarding of the land-use rights of small-scale farmers in particular; (b) Channel more investment towards local-level farming activity so that small-scale farmers can increase productivity and gain greater access to local markets with a view to boosting rural income levels; (c) Adopt effective measures against forced evictions in line with international human rights standards, and ensure that victims of such evictions have access to effective recourse that allows for restitution of their possessions, return to their home or land and appropriate indemnification. In this respect, the Committee draws the attention of the State party to its general comment No. 7 (1997) on the right to adequate housing (forced evictions), which includes guidance on adequate legal remedies, adequate compensation, and consultation, among other things. Right to food 43. The Committee notes with concern that, notwithstanding the efforts made by the State party, rates of undernutrition, particularly among indigenous peoples, and of child malnutrition continue to be very high (art. 10). 44. The Committee recommends that the State party redouble its efforts to safeguard the right to adequate food and strengthen its initiatives to provide an effective response to the situation of food insecurity and child malnutrition, particularly in rural areas, by establishing clear objectives with precise timelines and GE.16-11828 9