CRC/C/MUS/CO/2
page 11
(c)
Conduct awareness-raising campaigns among adolescents to inform them
about their reproductive health rights and the prevention of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and early
pregnancies; and
(d)
Provide particular support to pregnant teenagers, including through
community structures and social security benefits and ensure their completion of
education.
HIV/AIDS
56.
The Committee welcomes the adoption of the National Strategic HIV/AIDS Action
Plan 2001-2005 and the provision of anti-retroviral drugs to pregnant women free of charge to
reduce the mother-to-child transmission. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned about the
lack of awareness about HIV/AIDS which leads to fear and discriminatory attitudes against those
infected or affected.
57.
The Committee recommends that the State party integrate respect for the rights of
the child into the development and implementation of its HIV/AIDS policies and strategies,
taking into account its general comment No. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the
child (CRC/GC/2003/3).
Standard of living
58.
The Committee is concerned about the incidence of poverty and significant regional
disparities, with a higher incidence of poverty in Rodrigues. While appreciating the efforts made
by the State party towards poverty alleviation, there is no significant improvement of the living
conditions of vulnerable groups particularly with regard to access to adequate housing, education
and health-care facilities.
59.
The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to ensure
that the needs of all children are met, in particular those from socially disadvantaged
families and those living in remote areas, so that they do not live in poverty and their rights
to adequate housing, education and health are respected.
6. Education, leisure and cultural activities
(arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the Convention)
60.
The Committee acknowledges the remarkable improvement made in the field of
education, including the ongoing reforms of the education system. The Committee welcomes the
introduction of the Zone Education Prioritaire (ZEP) as an affirmative action measure to reduce
disparities in the educational achievement of children. However, the Committee is concerned
that the proposed reform may introduce an element of unfair classification in accessing the
national secondary schools based upon a high cut-off mark. It is also concerned that English as
the official language of instruction in schools is not supplemented by educational materials in
Creole. In addition, the Committee expresses its concern at the lack of human rights education
in the school curriculum.