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The Committee notes that the Government states in its report that it has forwarded all available information on the application of the Convention. It notes with interest that the Government is in the process of examining Convention No. 169 respecting indigenous and tribal peoples with a view to ratifying it. Lastly, it notes the Government's statement that the nomad population represents a very small percentage of Iraqi society.

The Committee has also taken note of the information supplied by the FAO concerning the application of the Convention by Iraq.

With reference to its earlier comments, and in view of the policy of assimilation of the populations concerned, to which the Government referred at various stages in its previous report, and since there are various nomad populations in the country, which the Government recognises, as well as other minority populations, the Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to provide more detailed information on the various points that it raised regarding the following Articles of the Convention.

Article 1 of the Convention. Please supply detailed information on the number of nomadic Bedouin groups and state whether other minority populations in the country have a tribal or semi-tribal social structure and whether the Government considers that they are covered by the Convention.

Articles 2, 6 and 27. The Committee recalls that, under these Articles of the Convention, the Government should establish co-ordinated and systematic programmes for the populations concerned in so far as it is necessary. Please indicate whether such programmes have been drawn up.

Article 5. Please state whether the populations concerned were consulted when the programmes to settle Bedouin populations were adopted and indicate the way in which they are implemented.

Articles 7, 8, 9 and 10. The Committee recalls that, pursuant to these Articles of the Convention, measures should be taken to ensure that the customary laws of the populations concerned and their methods of social control should be taken into account in defining the rights and duties of these populations and that their members enjoy specific protection against the application of preventive detention. Please indicate the measures envisaged in this respect.

Articles 16 to 18. Please indicate whether special vocational training programmes have been established for the populations concerned and whether their handicrafts and rural industries have been encouraged as factors in their economic development.

Article 19. Please indicate whether the social security scheme applies to members of the populations concerned, other than employees.

Article 20. Please provide more detailed information on the number and type of health services that are suited to the needs of the populations concerned, the regions in which they operate, their staff and the number of beneficiaries.

Articles 21 to 26. Please indicate the number and type of schools, the number of teachers, the regions in which the schools operate for the populations concerned and the number of pupils who are members of the populations that benefit from them. Please indicate also the minorities that receive instruction in their mother tongue.