Concluding Observations of the Committee
UNITED NATIONS
E/C.12/1/Add.68
31 August 2001
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
26th (extraordinary) session
13-31 August 2001
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER
ARTICLES 16 AND 17 OF THE COVENANT
Concluding Observations of the Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
GERMANY
1. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the fourth periodic report of Germany on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/4/Add.3) at its 48th and 49th meetings, held on 24 August 2001, and adopted, at its 58th meeting held on 31 August 2001, the following concluding observations.
C. PRINCIPAL SUBJECTS OF CONCERN
23.The Committee is concerned that the State party’s reformed social security, and the pension system under reform, do not take sufficiently into consideration the needs of families, women, elderly persons and the more disadvantaged groups in society. The Committee notes that the pension reform is currently still in progress, but that the Federal Constitutional Court recently referred to potential discrimination against families under the scheme as envisaged.
24.The Committee expresses its grave concern about inhumane conditions in nursing homes, due to structural deficiencies in nursing, as confirmed by the Medical Service of the national associations of health insurances (MDS).
E. SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
42. The Committee also urges the State party to adopt urgent measures to improve the situation of patients in nursing homes.
48. The Committee requests the State party to disseminate its concluding observations widely among all levels of society and to inform the Committee on all steps taken to implement them in its next periodic report. It also encourages the State party to continue to involve non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society in the preparation of its fifth periodic report.
49. Finally, the Committee requests the State party to submit its fifth periodic report by 30 June, 2006, and to include in this report detailed information on the steps it has undertaken to implement its recommendations contained in the present concluding observations.