- 39 - conform with the provisions of articles 2 and 10 of the Covenant, or to be compatible with articles 2 and 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Suriname is also a State party. Moreover, the Committee expresses its deep concern about the possibility under Surinamese law that a marriage partner may be appointed without his or her consent, which in general appears to affect women disadvantageously more often than men. 160. The Committee is concerned that social assistance to the poor is administered on a discretionary basis, which creates the possibility of unequal protection of the poor. Moreover, the Committee is concerned that, even when provided with social assistance, many disadvantaged persons receive inadequate amounts, and that those whose incomes are slightly above the official subsistence minimum do not receive any help at all from the social assistance programmes. The Committee considers that the subsistence minimum requires revision and that, as it presently stands, it excludes many persons genuinely in need of assistance. 161. The Committee notes with concern the inadequacy of housing available in Suriname, especially in the interior where many internally displaced persons are situated. It notes with concern the Government’s inability to implement its housing policy for the poorest sectors. 162. The Committee views with grave concern the problem of malnourishment of children in Suriname, which has been aggravated by the economic crisis. It is also concerned about the high mortality rates among children in the refugee camps and the inadequate education provided to these children. It further notes with concern the declining levels of vaccination coverage among the population. 163. With regard to education, the Committee notes that education is provided only in Dutch, the official language of Suriname. It regrets that no efforts are being made by the Government to promote the use of Sranan Tongo, which is spoken by most Surinamese, or to preserve the native languages of the various indigenous groups. The Committee is further concerned that education provided in Dutch only may serve as a contributing factor to the high incidence of school drop-outs. E. Suggestions and recommendations 164. The Committee recommends that the Government initiate programmes to educate the public so that traditional customs and attitudes that are discriminatory towards women are gradually modified and abolished. At the same time, the Committee urges the Government to ensure that all legislation is applied in a non-discriminatory manner and that laws which clearly discriminate against women are abolished. It particularly recommends that the laws permitting persons to marry without the acknowledgement or consent of the partner be abolished, that the problem of violence against women be legally addressed, and that general legislation regarding maternal benefits be enacted and enforced. 165. The Committee recommends that legislation be enacted to protect workers who are not covered by collective bargaining agreements, in order to ensure them a minimum wage, health and maternal benefits, safe working conditions, and other guarantees that meet international standards for conditions of work.