A/HRC/9/15 page 13 36. It is encouraging to hear of the work being done by many NGOs, together with the international community, with children of school age through human rights clubs so that future leaders and parents of this country will be familiar with human rights values from a young age. Fighting discrimination is a long-term goal and civil society must be empowered to take the lead on this issue, and especially in relation to the rampant discrimination against women evidenced by the high level of violence against them. V. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS A. Linkage between poverty and human rights violations 37. Poverty should be seen as multidimensional and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which was drafted following an extensive consultation process and which was enthusiastically welcomed at the Berlin Conference in June 2008,3 recognizes this fact. The Poverty Reduction Strategy seeks to build a foundation for rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and also to ensure the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the delivery of basic social services. It is important that the fundamental human rights principles of accountability and non-discrimination - particularly geographic and ethnic - be respected throughout the implementation process. B. Right to food 38. Many people in Liberia do not enjoy the right to food. Currently 40-45 per cent of the population is moderately to highly food insecure, and the need for both short-term and long-term strategies to deal with this situation is pressing. The current situation is being exacerbated by the global food security crisis and the rise in fuel prices. In order to mitigate its effects on the population the Government has made priority interventions to try and ensure access to affordable food, particularly to vulnerable households. Such measures include the removal of consumer tax on rice and negotiating with partners to ensure availability. A comprehensive action plan to increase food production is also being put in place by the Ministry of Agriculture. The school feeding programme has received a boost following recent commitments by the World Food Programme, so the nutritional requirements of schoolchildren are met. C. Right to work, fair remuneration and regular payment of wages 39. The fact that studies on labour law reform are now finalized by the Ministry, and an issues paper has been produced, is a welcome development. The archaic laws, some of which are over 20 years old, are in need of radical review to bring them in line with international standards. The establishment of a national tripartite committee on which employers, workers and Government are represented is an important step to promoting social dialogue. 40. However the high rate of unemployment and vulnerable employment is cause for concern and underlines the need for independent and effective trade unions. In both the public and private 3 2008 Liberia Poverty Reduction Forum toward Rapid, Inclusive, and Sustainable Development.