A/HRC/28/50 in addition, the decree giving effect to the special status of judges came into force (see A/HRC/25/44 and Corr.1, para. 57). Nevertheless, the recurrence of violence is of concern, especially where it relates to localized demands or combating the Ebola virus. Cases of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and ill-treatment persist. Furthermore, the mob lynchings reported in Haute Guinée and Guinée Forestière, as well as continued impunity for perpetrators of certain types of human rights violations, expose the inherent weaknesses in the judicial system. A. 1. The impact of the Ebola virus on social and economic rights Right to health 8. The right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is recognized under article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It is further guaranteed under article 15 of the Guinean Constitution. With support from technical and financial partners, treatment and transit centres offering free health care have been set up in Guinée Forestière and in the capital city. The international community — including the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a number of individual States — has made every effort to provide Guinea with substantial support in order to help combat the virus. 9. Despite these efforts, the virus was able to spread quickly due to a lack of awareness about Ebola, the delay in establishing a communication strategy, weaknesses in the healthcare system and hostility towards officials raising awareness about the virus in local communities. By mid-December 2014, more than 2,000 people in Guinea had been infected with Ebola and more than 1,000 people had died. 10. In October 2014, during its consideration of the report of Guinea (CEDAW/C/GIN/7-8), the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women encouraged the Government to seek support from the international community to address the imbalances in the health-care system caused by the outbreak, overcome budgetary issues and establish adequate health-care infrastructures. The Committee expressed concern about the impact of the outbreak on the lives and health of women, who are often the first victims of the virus. Furthermore, the Committee recommended that Guinea make provision for gender issues in its Ebola prevention and control programme, in consideration of women’s unequal access to health care (CEDAW/C/GIN/CO/7-8). 2. Right to education 11. Fearing an escalation of the rate of infection in schools and universities, and with the school year due to start at the beginning of October, on 4 September 2014 the Government postponed the start of the school year indefinitely. On 19 January 2015, the Government determined that classes could resume, albeit on a temporary basis. 3. Right to food 12. The right to food is guaranteed under article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Government has made continual efforts to improve the diet of the population, and a policy to boost agricultural and rice production was launched in 2011. Farming has been heavily subsidized, with the Government importing agricultural inputs and machinery in order to promote greater food selfsufficiency for the country as a whole. Agriculture is the main source of income for close to 80 per cent of the population. GE.15-03278 5