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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 1999 direct request, which read as follows:

Article 2 of the Convention. The Government states that it has established an Agency for Persons with Disabilities. It also has completed the draft national policy pertaining to vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities and is awaiting final approval. The Committee would appreciate receiving a copy of the national policy once it has been approved.

Article 3. The Government states that it has incorporated the National Trust Schemefor the disabled, which provides loans to persons with disabilities wanting to start their own businesses, in the Persons with Disabilities Act in order to give it legal recognition. However, the Government adds that little progress has been made due to insufficient funds and it encloses an evaluation which identifies some of the problems encountered with the Scheme.The Committee notes this information and would appreciate receiving further details on the follow-up action taken in the light of the review’s findings.

Article 7. Please provide information on the vocational guidance provided to persons with disabilities.

Part V of the report form. Further to previous comments, the Government states that the statistics department was established only in 1998, and therefore is not yet in a position to supply information on the practical application of the Convention. But the Government will do so in its next report. The Committee looks forward to receiving such information.