A/HRC/25/26 increased: during 1991–2009 access to electricity in the poorest rural areas increased from 66.6 per cent to 93.2 per cent and to piped water from 55.1 per cent to 83.6 per cent.42 28. Although the main components of human development have improved significantly in economic terms, the country still faces challenges of unemployment, low labour productivity growth rates and sustained income inequality.43 The Gender Inequality Index, as reported in the Human Development Report 2013, was 0.496 (ranking the Islamic Republic of Iran 107th). In May 2013 the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights raised serious concerns about the high unemployment of women and young people, lack of universal health insurance coverage, high levels of poverty in certain underdeveloped regions, and legislation and policies on cultural freedom. 29. Much of the income and non-income poverty is in areas such as informal urban settlements, the informal sector of the economy, remote rural areas, among refugees, and encompassing groups such as people with disabilities, and female-headed households. The overall distribution of income constrains overall access to improved quality resources and services. The Gini coefficient of income inequality, for instance, has stood above 0.4 for many years, with significant disparities between provinces, districts, urban centres and rural areas recorded.44 The Government is at present seeking to reduce inequality to a Gini coefficient level of 0.3 by 2014, marking the end of the period covered by the fifth FiveYear National Development Plan. 30. Disparities among provinces and between rural and urban areas persist. The percentage of poor underweight children under five is higher in rural areas (13.7 per cent) than in urban areas (9.6 per cent). Furthermore, security issues exacerbate regional disparities in social development. Areas bordering Afghanistan and Iraq are affected by drug and arms trafficking and illegal migration. Some of those areas suffer from poor communications and a shortage of staff in the health and welfare sectors.45 31. Women’s economic participation and employment have decreased. Only 14.5 per cent of the female population is economically active, of which 16.8 per cent are either unemployed or seeking jobs. During its review of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed serious concerns about restrictions on access to university education, including bans on female and male enrolment, limited quotas for women in certain fields, as well as gender segregation in classrooms and facilities. The Committee also noted with concern the low participation of women in the labour force, which has been further declining, and the possibility for a husband to prevent his wife from entering employment upon receipt of a court order under the Family Protection Law. The International Labour Organization (ILO) Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, in a recent observation, noted with regret the Government’s inaction on repealing section 1117 of the Civil Code, which provides that a husband can prevent his wife from taking up a job or profession.46 32. The Islamic Republic of Iran is experiencing rapid socioeconomic and demographic changes; and in 2013 its population surpassed 75 million. According to the 2011 census, the annual population growth rate is 1.3 per cent, the overall sex ratio is 1.02. Among other factors, the expansion of health facilities, the increased literacy rate and improved living 42 43 44 45 46 12 Statistical Centre of Iran, Statistical Research and Training Centre, “Report on available facilities and assets to households from 1991 to 2009” (2011). Ibid. Various household income and expenditure surveys show the extensive differences. Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and the Islamic Republic of Iran 2010-2014 (WHO, 2011). ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, Observation adopted in 2012 concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran and ILO Convention No. 111 (1958) concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation.