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with the goals and objectives of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights
Education, and that those responsible for enforcing the law should be given
instruction in human rights.
305. The Committee recommends that the State party’s second periodic report
contain more information regarding the effective implementation of the rights
guaranteed in the Covenant. The Committee reminds the Government in this
connection of the possibility of making use of the advisory services of the
Centre for Human Rights, which offers training in the drafting of the reports
required under international instruments.
PANAMA
306. At its 39th meeting on 24 November 1995 and at its 58th meeting
on 8 December 1995, the Committee, as a follow-up to its technical assistance
mission to Panama, considered the information submitted by a number of
non-governmental human rights organizations in Panama and adopted the
following decision.
307. The report of the technical assistance mission sent to Panama
from 16 to 22 April 1995 by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights marked a new stage in relations between the Committee and one of the
States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights. It marks a new point of departure in following up the policy of the
Government of Panama in regard to housing.
308. The Committee welcomes the thrust of the programmes and measures adopted
so far by the Government in regard to low-cost housing and the suspension of
forced evictions, which were frequent under previous Governments.
309. The Committee consequently expresses surprise and concern at the
decision taken by the President of the Republic on 14 August 1995 to exercise
his right to veto the law establishing the minimum size of low-income
dwellings and adopting other provisions. The law had been approved by the
Legislative Assembly in response to the basic requirement to satisfy the
concept of decent housing, solemnly recognized by the Government and in
keeping with the provisions of the Covenant.
310. The grounds on which the President’s veto was based seem to indicate an
adverse change in social policy, since the purchasing power of the most
disadvantaged groups and actual prices on the housing market are adduced as
the principal arguments for considering that the establishment of a minimum
size is contrary to national housing and urban development policy.
311. In this connection, the Committee considers that any social housing
programme worthy of the name cannot simply be based on market forces, but must
also take into account criteria which recognize the need to favour - even
provide for - the basic needs of low-income groups, in particular their right
to housing.
312. Lastly, the Committee remains concerned by the persistent conflicts
between the indigenous communities and landowners in the Bocas del Toro
province, for which a lasting settlement will not be found until the
boundaries of the comarca of the Ngöbé-Buglé people are defined.