E/C.12/LKA/CO/5
the current status of different communities with respect to durable solutions,
including the Muslims from the Northern Province.
Women-headed households
53.
The Committee is concerned that many women-headed households, in particular
those in the north and east, are vulnerable to poverty, face food insecurity and lack
livelihood opportunities, which increase their vulnerability to exploitation, sexual
harassment and violence, including sexual exploitation and bribery by officials (arts. 1011).
54.
The Committee recommends that the State party urgently adopt and
implement the national action plan on women-headed households and ensure that
women who head households have access to livelihood assistance, housing and land in
their own name, as well as low-interest or interest-free credit schemes. It also urges
the State party to ensure that officials who commit sexual exploitation, bribery and
harassment are prosecuted and sentenced, and victims have access to remedy and
compensation.
Right to food
55.
The Committee is concerned about the high levels of malnutrition and wasting, with
the State party having one of the highest wasting prevalence rates in the world (ranking 128
out of 130), caused by physical and financial barriers, rising food prices, income inequality,
poor infrastructure, a high proportion of the labour force engaged in the informal sector,
gender inequality, land degradation, urbanization, population ageing and climate change.
The Committee also notes with concern that a severe drought and heavy rainfalls in 2016
and early 2017 have affected many cropping areas, threatening the food security of some
900,000 people (art. 11).
56.
The Committee recommends that the State party take urgent measures to
improve the nutritional security of its population, paying specific attention to
children, pregnant and lactating women, especially those in conflict-affected districts
and in the plantation sector, and to prioritize investments in climate resilient
agriculture. It also recommends that the State party urgently adopt and implement
the national action plan to reduce wasting and stunting (2017-2020). The Committee
further recommends that the State party take adequate measures to effectively
address the situation of victims of the severe drought and heavy flooding that took
place in 2016 and 2017.
Right to health
57.
The Committee is concerned that the public health-care system is characterized by a
very low and decreasing expenditure as a percentage of GDP, regional disparities in healthcare infrastructure, long waiting lists for specialist care, high out-of-pocket health expenses,
high prices of medicines and expensive private medical care. It is also concerned that
persons with disabilities face challenges in accessing health services and information (art.
12).
58.
The Committee recommends that the State party take steps, in particular
within its National Health Strategic Master Plan for 2016-2025, to address regional
disparities in health-care infrastructure and ensure affordable and accessible public
health care. It also recommends that the State party significantly increase its budget
for public health care, taking into account the fast-growing ageing population and
strengthen the community-based rehabilitation programme for persons with
disabilities and ensure its coordinated implementation, including with the Ministry of
Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.
59.
The Committee is concerned that, despite measures taken, the mental health-care
system is inadequate and insufficiently available and accessible, while the need for mental
health and psychosocial services is acute for many, in particular those in conflict-affected
areas who suffer from conflict-related post-traumatic disorders (art. 12).
8