A/HRC/9/14
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D. Economic, social and cultural rights
73. As in the independent expert’s previous reports, violations of economic, social and cultural
rights remain a great concern. The Government put in place a programme of free primary
education in 2006. The programme has received support from the international community
through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Some development cooperation programmes have
provided long-term support to the Ministry of Education to improve education in Burundi.
According to information received, more classrooms will be built, teachers will be trained and
materials supplied.
74. A programme of free medical care for pregnant women and children under 5 years of age
has been launched, although hospitals and health centres are still waiting for allowances from the
Government, which arrive with huge delays. In addition, there are still cases of people who are
forcibly kept in hospital because they cannot pay their medical fees.
75. The independent expert visited Maison Shalom, a non-governmental organization in
Ruyigi, run by a remarkable woman named Maggie Banakiste, that provides a home for orphans
of war, who are handed back to relatives once they have been traced. Maison Shalom has just
opened a new hospital, which provides health care for mothers and children. All individuals have
access to the hospital through an integrated programme based on reciprocity. This hospital shows
how community-based initiatives can ensure the enjoyment of the rights of vulnerable groups,
and economic and social rights to its direct beneficiaries and the whole community.
E. Activities of the human rights community
76. Many promotion and capacity-building activities were carried out during the period under
review by the Human Rights and Justice Section of BINUB, human rights non-governmental
organizations and the Ministry for Human Rights in Burundi. These activities targeted
stakeholders in the judiciary, military, law enforcement and civil society organizations. They
addressed a wide range of issues, such as juvenile justice, due process, family law, sexual
violence, land issues and transitional justice.
77. Furthermore, the United Nations and the community of human rights non-governmental
organizations organized a number of promotional events to mark the end of the 16-day campaign
against sexual violence and the 59th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
on 10 December 2007. On 7 February 2008, the deputy Minister for Human Rights and Gender
Issues and the Representative of OHCHR officially launched a one-year campaign aimed at
promoting the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in the media on the occasion of its
60th anniversary. The ceremony was followed by a discussion on the contents of the Declaration
with media professionals, representatives of the central administration and of national and
international organizations.
78. In this context, different thematic activities were organized in many parts of the country
during the period under review, including awareness-raising initiatives, training sessions,
workshops, media debates and media educational programmes. In this regard, BINUB and
OHCHR organized a workshop on 18 and 19 February 2008 on the follow-up to the
recommendations of the Committee against Torture. A total of 15 representatives from
ministries, law enforcement, civil society, medias, the magistrature, the Bar association and
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