Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Commend Uruguay on Improvement in Education Enrolment, Raise Questions on Business Activities and Environmental Rights, and on Child Poverty
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the sixth periodic report of Uruguay under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with Committee Experts commending the State party’s improvement in education enrolment rates. Questions were raised on how Uruguay ensured that business activities under its jurisdiction did not have a negative impact on environmental rights, and how it was tackling high rates of child poverty.
Guiseppe Palmisano, Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for Uruguay, said according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization database, 90.8 per cent of upper secondary school-aged children in Uruguay were enrolled in school in 2022, showing an encouraging upward trend. The improvements between 2020 and 2022 had been particularly notable and were very positive.
Santiago Fiorio Vaesken, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Uruguay, asked how the State guaranteed that business activities under its jurisdiction did not generate negative impacts on its environment? What mechanisms existed to ensure independent, impartial and effective investigations into allegations of human rights violations committed by private companies? How did the State ensure effective access to justice and redress mechanisms for victims of corporate abuses?
Charafat El Yedri Afaial, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Uruguay, said around 44 per cent of people living in poverty were under the age of 18 and nearly two thirds of households living below the poverty line were headed by women. What measures had the State taken to address poverty and inequalities among children and adolescents? What measures had the State party taken to ensure the right to adequate food, promote social justice, and address protection gaps affecting individuals and groups facing food insecurity?
The delegation said the general law on the protection of the environment established the protection of the environment as a general interest and right. This framework guided all public policy decisions regarding the use of natural resources. The environmental impact assessment was compulsory for public and private projects, and a permit could be denied if a project was incompatible with fundamental rights.
Concerning child poverty, the delegation said the Child Fund was established in 2023 as a means of eradicating child poverty. A law was adopted in 2024 which defined the first national strategy for early childhood and childhood. There had been a 50 per cent increase in the vouchers for families living in poverty with children under the age of four. The National Institute for Children and Adolescents had mobile teams that provided regional support to implement comprehensive strategies for children in need. Since last year, specific mechanisms had been in place to boost access to foodstuff over the school holidays. Uruguay was making progress on an umbrella framework law on the right to adequate food.
Introducing the report, Noelia Martínez, Deputy Director General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and head of delegation, said since the beginning of the twentieth century, Uruguayan legislation had consistently promoted economic, social and cultural rights, with Uruguay being a pioneer in the adoption of rules such as the eight-hour workday, the minimum wage, the prohibition of child labour, social protection, and universal access to education, among others. Uruguay's classification as a high-income country, with the consequent reduction in official development assistance, added to the cuts in global international cooperation, posed an additional difficulty. Despite the challenges, Uruguay maintained a firm course in fulfilling its international commitments and in meeting its obligations to its population.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Fiorio Vaesken thanked the delegation of Uruguay for the excellent participation and the high quality and sincere dialogue. It was expected that the recommendations by the Committee would successfully be developed into public policies and new developments in administration.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Martínez thanked the Committee for the excellent climate of the constructive dialogue, and their valuable questions and comments. Uruguay was aware of its challenges but had been able to discuss targeted actions for economic, social and cultural rights, and had an unstinting commitment to ensure the full enjoyment of these rights.
The delegation of Uruguay was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; the Ministry of Social Development; the Ministry of Environment; the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning; the Presidency of the Republic Human Rights Secretariat; the Planning and Budget Office; the Legislative Power; the Judicial Power; the Social Security Bank; the University of the Republic; and the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s seventy-ninth session is being held until 25 February 2026. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon, Wednesday, 11 February, to begin its consideration of the third periodic report of Georgia (E/C.12/GEO/3).
Report
The Committee has before it the sixth periodic report of Uruguay (E/C.12/URY/6).
Presentation of Report
NOELIA MARTÍNEZ, Deputy Director General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and head of delegation, reiterated Uruguay's firm commitment to the multilateral system. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Uruguayan legislation had consistently promoted economic, social and cultural rights, with Uruguay being a pioneer in the adoption of rules such as the eight-hour workday, the minimum wage, the prohibition of child labour, social protection, and universal access to education, among others.
The commitment to progressive progress in the rights supervised by the Committee had been a structural feature of the actions of the Uruguayan State. Although the process was interrupted during the civic-military dictatorship between 1973 and 1985, Uruguay was unrelenting in its responsibility to ensure the exercise of these rights in a sustained manner. Respect for international law was a guiding principle of Uruguay’s foreign policy, and coordinating mechanisms had been developed to disseminate the recommendations of the treaty bodies.
The pandemic had generated significant difficulties for a developing country like Uruguay during the reporting period. For a developing country in transition like Uruguay, international cooperation continued to be a fundamental tool for advancing public policies that guaranteed and promoted the exercise of economic, social and cultural rights. Therefore, Uruguay's classification as a high-income country, with the consequent reduction in official development assistance, added to the cuts in global international cooperation, posed an additional difficulty. Despite the challenges, Uruguay maintained a firm course in fulfilling its international commitments and in meeting its obligations to its population.
Last year, the national budget law 2025-2029 was approved, providing for budgetary resources for the next five years. The law prioritised strategic areas for development, including strengthening social policies focused on children and adolescents, the protection of populations in situations of greater vulnerability, and health, with special emphasis on mental health and addiction treatment. These resources were intended to strengthen the social protection matrix, with the aim of combatting poverty and reducing inequality. Children and adolescents received the largest allocation of the budget increase (40 per cent), followed by the areas of social vulnerability and health (11 per cent each).
Ms. Martínez acknowledged the difficulties faced by the United Nations system, reaffirming Uruguay’s commitment to multilateralism, human rights, and willingness to strengthen cooperation with the Committee.
Questions by a Committee Expert
SANTIAGO FIORIO VAESKEN, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Uruguay, said the high-level delegation of Uruguay was appreciated. To what extent had the State disseminated information about the dialogue to civil society? Were there any incentives for them to participate in the dialogue? Could updated information be provided on the direct application of the Covenant by domestic courts, including relevant jurisprudence, administrative decisions, and judicial precedents in which economic, social and cultural rights had been invoked? What were the number of relevant cases in the last five years concerning the rights referred to in the Covenant?
What measures had been taken to strengthen the specialised training of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, State attorneys and judicial operators? In relation to the national human rights plan 2023-2027, had the recommendations of the treaty bodies been integrated into its content? How had civil society participated? What monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were in place to ensure compliance with its content?
The Committee had learned about the recent adoption of the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework for Uruguay 2026-2030. What were critical indicators for priority action? Could more information on the Joint Steering Committee to monitor its implementation be provided? What concrete steps had been taken to formalise a clear, transparent, participatory and independent process for the selection and appointment of the authorities of the national human rights institution? How was it ensured that the institution had the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate?
How did the State guarantee that business activities under its jurisdiction did not generate negative impacts on its environment? What mechanisms existed to ensure independent, impartial and effective investigations into allegations of human rights violations committed by private companies? How did the State ensure effective access to justice and redress mechanisms for victims of corporate abuses, including administrative, judicial and extrajudicial mechanisms? Did the State implement due diligence in its contracts with private suppliers? What measures had the State adopted to reverse the sustained increase in greenhouse gas emissions?
Taking into account that Uruguay was currently one of the countries with the highest tax burdens, what measures were being taken to correct the regressive effects of the tax system derived from the high dependence on indirect taxes, in order to strengthen the redistributive function of the tax system? How did the national budget law 2025-2009 ensure the progressive allocation of resources to social protection, housing, education and health? What was the applicable legal framework for establishing clear and independent mechanisms for prevention, investigation, punishment and, where appropriate, reparations for cases of corruption? How did this framework operate? How many cases had resulted in sanctions? Would the State adopt a comprehensive national anti-corruption strategy?
Was there a comprehensive law against discrimination in the pipeline? What measures had been adopted to eliminate accessibility barriers in public transport, public services, health centres, and spaces for citizen participation, including voting centres? What measures was the State currently taking for the social integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers? Did they have the ability to obtain work permits, as well as temporary or permanent residence?
What measures were being taken to prevent, punish and redress cases of discrimination? What policies had been adopted to reduce poverty that disproportionately affected the Afro-descendant population?
In 2019, Uruguay committed to the implementation of multiple recommendations to ratify International Labour Organization Convention 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples, but in 2024, the State presented a new position, contrary to the direction of the ratification. What was the State’s position on ratifying this Convention?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said a mechanism had been established which comprised representatives of institutions representing all branches of the State. It was ensured that all institutions that were part of the mechanism, and ones that were not, participated in the preparation for the dialogue. The national human rights institution had also assisted in the drafting of the report. Civil society participated in the preparation of the report and dialogue, although this could be improved. The Government was working to tweak consultation processes to ensure fluid and open dialogue with civil society organizations. Human rights were a priority in Uruguayan law which applied to businesses and companies operating throughout the country. A process had been launched consulting with civil society on this issue.
The judicial oversight function had effective ways to ensure the constitutionality of measures taken by the Government. Economic, social and cultural rights were considered as fundamental rights and protection measures were in place to protect them. Several court rulings had abided by the Constitution and provisions of the Covenant. An amparo mechanism in the country defended constitutional and other rights. The courts had ruled on the right to not work a seven-day week, in line with the Covenant. There was ongoing training in all courts of the country for magistrates and judgement. Free legal aid was provided to all persons through the Attorney-General’s Office.
The general law on the protection of the environment established the protection of the environment as a general interest and right. This framework guided all public policy decisions regarding the use of natural resources. The environmental impact assessment was compulsory for public and private projects, and a permit could be denied if a project was incompatible with fundamental rights. Uruguay was on a downward track when it came to greenhouse emissions per capita. In 2022, net emissions decreased by three per cent compared to 2020. The carbon emissions per inhabitant had been reduced thanks to structural changes in the energy grid.
According to census data, 6.3 per cent of the population self-identified as being indigenous. Faced with this reality, the Government had outlined processes with these communities to repay the historic debt owed to this population. An advisory council had been established to ensure that the needs of indigenous peoples could be responded to at the grassroots level. In 2025, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Brazil to strengthen bilateral cooperation in human rights for vulnerable groups. A course focused on human rights public policy. There were channels for submitting complaints on the grounds of discrimination in Uruguay.
The civil service office could suspend any competitive exam if it was found it did not comply with the rules. A human rights office drafted reports on challenges and compliance with the laws. A legal framework established rules for public transport, which ensured persons with disabilities and wheelchair users could disembark from public transport. There were special requirements for maritime and air transport. However, there was no real oversight of compliance with these rules or sanctions. The State was working on improving this situation.
In 2025, there were two vacant posts within the Directorate for Human Rights to which candidates applied. The case of harassment of the former counsellor of human rights was currently under review.
It was true that the tax system was regressive, but this had decreased since 2007. Uruguay now had a higher income tax, and direct taxation for 2024 was 43.5 per cent, including property and income tax. More than 50 per cent of taxation was still indirect taxation. Education and health were the highest expenditures for the last year. There had been an increase in key areas, including childhood, to ensure more extensive education. In the “Uruguay at work programme”, there was a priority focused on single parent households with women, as they were often the ones with the highest level of poverty. The Government focused on ensuring that people could afford rent and also buy their first home, looking to alleviate people in vulnerable situations.
Questions by Committee Experts
SANTIAGO FIORIO VAESKEN, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Uruguay, asked how the State guaranteed transparency in taxation, including public information on tax evasion? Why had additional measures not been taken to address the wage gap? Were there any structural measures planned to address this issue, especially for older women? How did the State guarantee the equal participation of women in political, economic and business leadership spaces? How was comprehensive protection for trafficking victims ensured, including for migrant women?
The constructive activities taken to consolidate the rights of indigenous peoples were welcomed. What was the State’s position on International Labour Organization Convention 169. The implementation of human rights standards in policies was welcomed, as it showed that there had been significant development. What budgets were dedicated to the social protection of older persons? What measures were being planned to ensure the proper functioning of the pension system?
KARLA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert and Member of the Task Force for Uruguay, asked about work life balance; what specific measures had the State taken to strengthen parental leave care systems? How was effective access ensured for women in vulnerable situations? Had there been sufficient sustainable budgetary allocation to ensure law 19/580 on gender-based violence could be fully implemented? What measures were in place to ensure effective prevention, care and reparations to victims throughout the country?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said it had been 20 years since law 18/76 established refugee status, which had been a historical benchmark. In 2017, there was a sustained progressive increase in asylum applications received by the country. There were 26,000 pending refugee asylum applications, with 20,000 received last year. A programme governed the migration services, including refugee commissions. A technological database had been established, with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Those who entered Uruguay as applicants immediately received an identification card which was the same as Uruguayans, enabling them to access all basic services. Uruguay was a country of migrants and joyfully received these migration flows; however, it was a challenge for the State. No migrant child entering the country was denied their right to enter education. Uruguay had few cases of statelessness to manage, only around five. Multiple pieces of legislation were in place to address this issue.
Uruguay had an institutional framework on trafficking, and relevant legislation. New public policies ensured institutional cooperation spread across the country. There were challenges in ensuring criminal charges were in line with international standards. The State wanted to provide services to victims and ensure migrants were less vulnerable. There were areas of weakness but Uruguay was aware of them and was constantly improving public policy in this area.
In 2024, the wage gap in Uruguay stood at around 25 per cent, but this had been decreasing. Studies had shown that women performed double the amount of care, or even three times the amount, compared to men of non-renumerated work, making it difficult for them to engage in remunerated work. The State was striving to increase women’s representation in remunerated formal posts. A programme had been introduced to support teenage mothers to enter the labour market, as well as a programme which facilitated training for seasonal work for mothers with young children. Around 42 public institutions had signed up to the gender parity requirement, which included gender quotas. Steps had been taken to balance parental leave; a law had been adopted in 2024 which expanded the number of parental leave days to 20 for fathers and made it mandatory for them to fully take their parental leave.
Uruguay had a holistic law to tackle gender-based violence. Two prosecutors specialising in gender-based violence were operating throughout the country. Measures had been taken to tackle gender-based violence, including the development of a third action plan. Specialised gender units had already been established in 85 per cent of public bodies.
Uruguay had a broad raft of measures aimed at ensuring protection of older persons, including a cash transfer programme to mitigate poverty for older persons who did not have a pension. The needs of elderly persons were being addressed by the Ministry of Health to ensure all health services were dignified and that there were channels to report abuse. There had been 641 cases of abuse reported in the last two years, with the majority dealt with by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The State was committed to continuing to explore the ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 169. The Secretariat of Human Rights had set up a board to raise awareness about the specific needs of indigenous peoples and the protection of their cultural heritage.
Questions by Committee Experts
KARLA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Uruguay, asked for the verifiable results of the work programme for vulnerable people? Were they contributing to sustainable labour trajectories, especially for young persons, women, persons of African descent and persons with disabilities? What were the structural impediments to delivering of the quota for persons of African descent? Could updated information be shared on the effective compliance with the quota for persons with disabilities, particularly in the private sector? What specific measures were being taken to address the additional barriers that women with disabilities faced in accessing employment? What measures had been taken to guarantee migrants equal access to formal employment on an equal basis with Uruguayans?
What specific measures had the State adopted to address youth unemployment and what had been their outcomes? What steps had been taken to address the informal labour sector? What specific programmes existed for those operating in the informal economy to transition into the formal economy? Was there a strategy which addressed the gaps that affected informal workers, migrants, women and youth? What measures was the State adopting to address the structural barriers that limited access, particularly for women and young people, to high paid, quality jobs? Were there tools to ensure equal pay was given for equal work? How was this ensured in labour inspection activities? How was it ensured that the minimum wage and collective bargaining mechanisms provided a decent standard of living for workers and their families?
Concerns persisted about occupational accident rates, especially in high-risk sectors. What measures had been adopted to reduce these accidents? Could data on occupational illness and accidents at work be provided? What had been done to reduce this? How did the State explain the low number of workplace discrimination complaints? How did the State ensure effective access of trade union organizations to workplaces, particularly in the private sector? What legal, administrative and judicial safeguards were in place to ensure that the right to strike and collective bargaining could be exercised without reprisal, in both the public and private sectors? Were there currently any regulatory or practical restrictions on certain forms of strike? What had Uruguay done to strengthen a real and inclusive tripartite social dialogue, especially in sectors with high informality or weak union organization?
How would the State address the reform introduced by law no. 20,130? What steps were being taken to ensure social welfare benefits and payments were aligned with the costs of living? What criteria and methodologies were used to determine the adequacy of these benefits in relation to the poverty line and the cost of living, and how was their regular updating ensured to avoid loss of purchasing power? What had been done to ensure protection against reprisals at work? Had there been any sanctions due to violence at work?
A Committee Expert asked about the right to care in Uruguay; had there been any structural barriers towards a universalisation of the care system? Were there any measures to strengthen community care programmes? Was Urugay considering putting rules in place for digital employment platforms? Were persons working in this way protected?
Another Expert asked what structural barriers were preventing the full implementation of the care system? What limitations applied to early childhood and the care system? Could information on access to impact assessments be provided?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the rate of national employment had increased on an ongoing basis over the past six years, indicating the effective demand for jobs in the country had increased on a sustained basis. Men had a 16 per cent likelihood of being employed than women. The unemployment rate stood at seven per cent in 2025, reflecting a downwards trend in unemployment over the past six years. Employment in the informal sector continued to be a concern, with 20 per cent of jobs being in the informal sector. As of 2025, a new draft employment bill was underway allowing for consultation from key stakeholders.
Employment services at the public level had a key role to play in guidance and support from workers. Since 2022, a programme was in place which intended to bolster access to the workplace for those who were economically vulnerable. A series of measures to strengthen the care system were part of the care policy. Uruguay promoted shared responsibility for unpaid work, which would help to increase women’s representation in the labour market. A further set of measures focused on women’s empowerment and reducing inequality in income. The wage gap was expected to increase due to the implementation of policy differentiated adjustment. It was believed that more than 58 per cent of women at work were domestic workers. Uruguay was one of the few countries in the world where domestic workers were involved in collective bargaining initiatives.
The national institute for vocational training complied with the quota for people of African descent. There had been an increase in applications for guidance and support in the private sector. A comprehensive law on trans persons laid down a one per cent quota in the public sector. Not many companies complied with this requirement. Those companies that did not meet the required quotas would not be registered online as being compliant. There were 24 councils focusing on salaries. This was a powerful tool to promote collective bargaining, including all private sector activities in Uruguay. In 2025, more than 90 per cent of the negotiating tables had been concluded. Around 732 reports of labour violations had been received last year. More than 800 labour inspections had been carried out over the past five years, most predominantly in rural areas, in the sugar cane and building sectors.
There had been a 12 per cent increase in occupational health illness in the past two years. A law was promulgated which guaranteed the peaceful right to strike under law. There was a provision of evictions in cases of occupation of premises.
Work had begun last year on a social programme, with active participation of some political parties and central trade union organizations, as well as persons caring for children and persons with disabilities. It would result in a report determining where the Government was in terms of social security, looking at revising the social protection programme.
There was concern when it came to elderly people and their care needs. The State was guaranteeing the right to care at every stage of life. Childcare was a key priority. The budget had been increased to address child poverty and address temporary care on equal opportunities. Care homes provided services for those without access to trained care in those geographical areas. Community care centres provided quality childcare to those in need.
The Family Code meant that families were the main channel for the distribution of cash transfer programmes, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society. There had been a progressive increase of those under the programme and the amount dispersed had increased.
Since 2025, there had been a national commitment to life, health and safety. In Uruguay, the national minimum wage was set as the benchmark in the labour market for the most vulnerable sectors. In the last five years, this had an increase of only 0.5 per cent. The State monitored the purchasing power of the national minimum wage. The setting of the new minimum wage was pegged to the consumer price index over the past six months. A law had been adopted which set minimum standards of protection for online workers.
Questions by a Committee Expert
CHARAFAT EL YEDRI AFAIAL, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Uruguay, said the protection of children and adolescents remained a major concern for the State, despite the efforts undertaken. What measures had the State party taken to strengthen the protection and realisation of the rights of children and adolescents, with special attention to those in vulnerable situations? Between May 2021 and April 2024, 190 girls and adolescents under the age of 15 were reported as pregnant, with 39 per cent of these cases resulting from sexual abuse.
What measures had the State taken to protect children and adolescents from violence, abuse and sexual exploitation? How was comprehensive sexual education ensured for all students? In 2019, seven per cent of girls aged 15 to 19 were married; what steps had the State taken to amend the Civil Code in order to establish 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both girls and boys?
Around 44 per cent of people living in poverty were under the age of 18 and nearly two thirds of households living below the poverty line were headed by women. What measures had the State taken to address poverty and inequalities among children and adolescents? In 2024, 13.7 per cent of households reduced their food consumption due to a lack of resources. What measures had the State party taken to ensure the right to adequate food, promote social justice, and address protection gaps affecting individuals and groups facing food insecurity? What had been done to adopt a comprehensive legislative framework to formally recognise and guarantee the right to adequate food?
What measures had been taken to ensure the accessibility, affordability, availability and safety of water for drinking and domestic use, particularly for disadvantaged and marginalised groups? How was Uruguay strengthening climate and environmental governance, incorporating a human rights-based approach in the management of water and climate related risks? How did the State ensure equitable access to safe sanitation for all communities?
Foreign investment, multinational corporations, and the development of joint ventures had significant impacts on the environment and local communities. What legal and policy frameworks had been developed regulating foreign investment and multinational enterprises, particularly regarding their environmental and social responsibilities? How did the State use fiscal tools, such as taxes or financial penalties, to hold polluting companies accountable? What legal obligations had the State adopted to prevent, mitigate, and remedy environmental harm, and how were these obligations enforced?
What steps had the State taken to implement the 2020–2024 housing plan, and how did it ensure that these measures effectively addressed social vulnerability, housing insecurity, and equitable access to adequate housing? The adoption of the law of urgent consideration raised serious concerns, including from the national human rights institution, about its compliance with the State’s obligations to protect the right to adequate housing, prevent forced evictions, and safeguard vulnerable groups from homelessness and social exclusion. What steps had been taken to prevent forced evictions, which affected vulnerable groups, and to ensure effective safeguards and access to adequate alternative housing?
Despite significant progress in health, including the adoption of a legal framework as well as national strategies and plans, Uruguay continued to face persistent structural challenges, particularly regarding mental, sexual and reproductive health. What specific measures had the State taken to address the high suicide rates, particularly among men, the elderly, and young adults, and how did it ensure access to mental health support for these groups? What measures had been undertaken to ensure access to safe and legal abortion services, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women in rural areas, young women, migrants, and those from low-income or marginalised communities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said a new cooperation framework agreement had been put together towards achieving development, which identified key challenges in this regard. The agreement factored in recommendations from the United Nations treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review. A law provided for clear sanctions in the public sector and had set up oversight bodies. A reform to the Criminal Code set out new crimes, including corruption in the private sphere and the bribing of civil servants by foreign nationals. There had been 136 complaints of corruption registered as of December 2025, but no criminal activity had been identified. The Ethics Board was working to ensure a greater reporting of complaints.
All groups had the right to submit amparo procedures before the courts. Housing or industrial bodies pursuing projects with an impact on the environment could be fined if they had a negative impact on environmental rights.
There were no gender parity laws in Uruguay and the quota law dated back to 2014. Two gender parity laws had failed in parliament in the last legislative period. In the national human rights plan, the participation of civil society had been a core pillar. The plan was an ongoing process with regular reporting and an annual handbook reporting on accountability and identifying progress achieved and the challenges which remained.
Uruguay did not criminalise the irregular entry into the country by migrants. The law on migration outlined that anyone who entered the country irregularly would still be granted access to justice and institutions.
The Child Fund was established in 2023 as a means of eradicating child poverty. A law was adopted in 2024 which defined the first national strategy for early childhood and childhood. There had been a 50 per cent increase in the vouchers for families living in poverty with children under the age of four. The National Institute for Children and Adolescents had mobile teams that provided regional support to implement comprehensive strategies for children in need. The Institute had specialised services to provide support for victims of sexual exploitation and would conduct a rollout with Mexico to strengthen national action.
Uruguay was committed to the rights of food and nutrition. While there was no specific law establishing the right to food, several laws allowed public programmes relating to food to be rolled out. Since last year, specific mechanisms had been in place to boost access to foodstuff over the school holidays. Uruguay was making progress on an umbrella framework law on the right to adequate food.
A public health report showed that there had been a downward trend of 41 per cent of girls under the age of 15 giving birth. This had been made possible by the decriminalisation of abortion as well as the provision of free contraception. Around 20 per cent of clinics in the country did not provide abortions at all because their staff had a conscientious objection to this procedure. This meant women seeking abortion services in these areas had to travel elsewhere to get them, which incurred extra costs. A law on child marriage was adopted at the end of 2025, raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 years, following multiple recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
The water crisis of 2023 was a complex challenge for Uruguay, as the country had no protocol for drought situations. Given that, measures were put in place providing water supplies to schools, prisons and other places in a vulnerable situation. Focus was given to residential areas and childhood care centres. A protocol for drought was being implemented, which included campaigns for responsible use and storing of water when there were signs of a crisis.
Uruguay had seen a downward trend in greenhouse gas emissions. The State had adopted a waste management law in 2024. A plan had been approved which systematised action to ensure that by 2030, the whole country had one hundred per cent sanitation. In 2020, the Ministry of the Environment was created which established a climate change directorate. The long-term climate strategy was adopted in 2021, with contributions assessed at the national level.
The rental policy in the country had been strengthened. A plan focused on housing for vulnerable groups, including women, children and those with disabilities, with actions paying particular care to those in a vulnerable situation. The housing advisory committees had been reinstated as places for dialogue, participation and advisory services. The first house programme helped people access a first home through rent to buy schemes. The Government had provided financing for more than 17,000 houses in the country.
Questions by Committee Experts
CHARAFAT EL YEDRI AFAIAL, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Urugay, asked what measures had the State taken to ensure sustainability of the national care system and strengthen its role in promoting care-related rights? How was the State facilitating the inclusion of those with full dependency and reducing the amount of unpaid work by women and girls. During the 2023 water crisis, the State had refilled fresh water sources with water taken from the Rio de la Plata estuary to address the shortage, which had resulted in structural problems, including pollution. What steps had the State taken to develop early warning systems on water quality? In some areas, 89 per cent of water samples were polluted; what steps had the State taken to strengthen oversight of substances used in the agrochemical sector?
SANTIAGO FIORIO VAESKEN, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Uruguay, asked if there were any multi-dimensional poverty indicators used when drafting public policy? The Committee had noted that products for daily use had seen their price trebled compared to their original price, with a high proportion of additional costs for combustible fuels. Could clarification be provided? This increase was due mainly to tax and other State interventions.
A Committee Expert asked what measures existed for regulating companies which produced and traded products which were harmful for health? Were there any guidelines to govern the marketing and use of e-cigarettes?
Another Expert asked what progress the country had made in building up a climate adaptation plan for the different sectors?
An Expert said Uruguay had adopted a policy towards drugs which was more human rights based, putting in place rehabilitation programmes. Were there plans to broaden the damage limitation services? How did the State bring about the human rights centred approach?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said an urban development programme had been created which allowed for the expansion of green spaces in the country. Tax evasion was a phenomenon which was difficult to measure. It was estimated this stood at around 20 per cent for VAT and close to 50 percent for income tax. The State was launching strategies to lead to improved tax collection.
One of the major challenges confronting Uruguay’s health care system was providing access to services to the entire population. A review of services and their coverage had been launched, resulting in an expansion of palliative care services as well as medicines which had previously not been covered. The State was working to ensure care by local services to guarantee a decentralised approach.
Strategies had been applied to respond to non-communicable diseases, as well as mental health. The current administration moved away from a hospital approach to a community approach, to respond to mental health needs. The approach recognised that each community had their own unique problems which needed to be addressed. The suicide rate in Uruguay was double that of the region. To respond to this, the State had pursued suicide prevention programmes; it also guaranteed access to mental health services for national police officers.
There had been a change in the estimation of the price of fuels and throughout 2025, various measures were enacted to provide fiscal relief. Several funds decentralised the disbursement of resources. Steps had been taken to strengthen the monitoring of pesticides in the country. Since 2025, a list of harmful substances, including pesticides, had been updated to ensure these were not included in the country’s water supply.
The new basic food basket was used as a tool to measure poverty against. A tool had been developed allowing the State to be more focused when selecting beneficiaries. Uruguay had been working on creating a national care fund, which would address the key issues. Measures had been enacted to reduce the cost of access to fuel, particularly for vulnerable counties and in border areas. Uruguay had provided tax exemptions on the cost of purchasing fuel for those in border areas. The country had a high rate of drug consumption, and this was being addressed through various programmes.
Questions by Committee Experts
GUISEPPE PALMISANO, Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for Uruguay, said according to some studies, in Uruguay the education budget had been cut by 0.6 per cent of gross domestic product (approximately US$150 million) since March 2020. Could the education budget be clarified as well as its proportion to the overall public budget in recent years? How was the education budget calculated, and did it take into account the sector's actual needs? What measures had been taken to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of schooling in impoverished and rural areas?
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization database, 90.8 per cent of upper secondary school-aged children in Uruguay were enrolled in school in 2022, showing an encouraging upward trend after a slow decline from 74.2 per cent in 2011 to 71.1 per cent in 2015. The improvements between 2020 and 2022 had been particularly notable and were very positive. However, significant inequalities persisted in educational outcomes, particularly at secondary and higher levels. Could updated information and data on drop-out rates at the secondary level be provided? Could the delegation provide data on absenteeism at the primary and secondary level? Were targeted measures being considered to address these persistent problems?
Were the Ministry of Education and the Government aware of the serious situation regarding the quality of education and were any initiatives or measures being taken? Was sexual and reproductive health included in the school curriculum, and if so, at what level? Regarding the right to education for persons with disabilities, recent data showed that they continued to face significant structural inequalities. Were any measures being considered to improve inclusive education for persons with disabilities at all levels, through early identification, appropriate pedagogical support, reasonable adjustments, and accessible infrastructure?
What measures had been taken to protect the country's cultural diversity, promote awareness of the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples and communities of African descent, and create favourable conditions for them to preserve, develop, express and disseminate their identity, history, traditions and customs? Had any systematic measures been taken in recent years to integrate indigenous history and culture into national educational curricula and public life?
Was any action taken following recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination regarding its indigenous peoples?
In recent years, Uruguay had faced challenges relating to misinformation and the need to disseminate accurate scientific information, particularly in the context of the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, official surveys and social listening tools suggested notable vaccine hesitancy among parts of the population, partly attributed to exposure to inaccurate or misleading online claims about vaccines. Could information be provided on the measures taken to prevent misinformation and promote the dissemination of accurate scientific information with respect to the COVID-19 crisis and beyond?
Had Uruguay taken measures to integrate indigenous history and culture into the school curriculum? According to a report by the Uruguayan Parliament, prisoners had limited access to education. Could the delegation explain the Government’s response to this critical situation? Were they considering measures to improve the right to education in the prison system?
SANTIAGO FIORIO VAESKEN, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Uruguay, asked if the school curriculum contained the history of the dictatorship in Uruguay? What was the average salary of teachers in Uruguay? Was there a career development plan which teachers could follow?
A Committee Expert asked if there were any statistics about students who dropped out of secondary school and then resumed their studies?
Another Committee asked if intercultural education was incorporated within the curriculum?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that as of 2020, there had been a decrease in investment in Uruguay, but it was working on increasing these resources. The increase in resources would focus on support for primary education pupils and strengthen basic programmes in secondary education. As of this year, about 30 per cent of school establishments would receive school meals. There were 1,000 rural schools in the country, with around 500 having fewer than five pupils, highlighting the State’s investment in education. Around 10 per cent of students in the country did not reach their matriculation age, which was an issue for the Uruguay in achieving the right to education. There had been improvements on this in recent years, but further work was still needed.
The non-Afro population had better results at all levels of education. The State was doubling the amount of school feeding programmes. Although 25 per cent of adolescents who previously had not been included in education now were enrolled, issues persisted. The State was trying to address different kinds of curriculum support and ensure that children attended school. There were also a series of measures related to extending school hours and to ensure teachers could provide support to students. Work was being done to ensure constant training for teachers.
As of June 2025, 5,000 students were not enrolled in compulsory schooling programmes. To combat this, the State had introduced policies stating that family benefits would be suspended if children did not attend school, which had resulted in 300 of these pupils eventually enrolling. The State was working to locate all unenrolled children and facilitate their enrolment. Ten per cent of students had special needs. A programme of comprehensive sexual education had been part of the curriculum for several years. A report had registered a conservative increase in the mindsets of adolescents regarding the roles of men and women. Steps had been taken to coordinate with all institutions providing this kind of teaching.
In 2025, Uruguay significantly expanded the participation of artists from the interior of the country, bolstering the capacity of individuals and communities to produce and create art and ensure daily cultural life. A broad range of cultural programmes, including the State’s winter plan, was being offered. A decentralised approach recognised that culture reflected the grassroots community from which it originated. The accreditation of Afro descendent knowledge was an initiative which certified the cultural knowledge of Afro-descendent practices, for example hairdressers and barbers, as a cultural and specific technique. This encouraged their participation into the formal market by providing them with a certificate and a recognised skillset.
During the pandemic, a committee was established which brought together different scientists to provide clear and proven information on the pandemic and to reject misinformation which was circling. The State had taken steps to promote the dissemination of quality, scientific-based information. Several strategies, including the artificial intelligence strategy, also addressed the concept of disinformation. Work was done with social media and media platforms to address deceitful information which had a cultural component, and observatories responsible for oversight had also been established in this regard.
Uruguay had the highest rate of imprisonment in the region, and the prison population had seen accelerated levels over the past five years, with a high increase in female inmates. The national rehabilitation institute had rolled out specific and targeted measures to improve access to education for those deprived of their liberty, including an investment in new infrastructure. Primary and secondary education was made available to inmates, and a tertiary institution also delivered courses.
Around 53 per cent of those deprived of liberty in Uruguay were illiterate due to a lack of access. Recent figures showed that 63 per cent of those released from prisons committed a crime within three years of being released and were then returned to prison. The State was conscious that this meant there were issues which needed to be addressed.
There had been many students whose families were impacted by the dictatorship, meaning this was a topic which needed to be handled sensitively. Teachers were paid between four to eight times the national wage depending on their experience, which was much higher than the average wage. Around 30 per cent of those enrolled in secondary education in Uruguay had enrolled in “second change” programmes. Second opportunity programmes had been instituted which set an exam recognising achievements throughout life, ensuring benefits and recognition for older students.
Uruguay had worked on including children on the move in education. Schools were a special place for protecting the rights of these children and recognising the cultural values of migrant children was part of the school agenda. University extension programmes had been developed to fill gaps which could not be met by the State. There were currently 9,000 scholarship students at the University of the Republic, with eight per cent of these scholarships earmarked for Afro-descendent students.
The disability network was involved in certifying disability certificates of the migrant population. More than 4,000 certificate validation procedures had been carried out for migrants. Uruguay’s University had played a key role during the pandemic, conducting biological research.
Closing Remarks
SANTIAGO FIORIO VAESKEN, Committee Expert and Leader of the Task Force for Uruguay, thanked the delegation of Uruguay for the excellent participation and the high quality and sincere dialogue. Mr. Fioro Vaesken encouraged the State party to involve civil society in all future treaty body meetings. He thanked all those who had made the dialogue possible. It was expected that the Committee’s recommendations would successfully be developed into public policies and new developments in administration.
NOELIA MARTÍNEZ, Deputy Director General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the excellent climate of the constructive dialogue, and their valuable questions and comments. These forums were essential for States to provide accountability, which would allow Uruguay to raise its standards and improve its procedures to bring about further enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. Uruguay was aware of its challenges but had been able to discuss targeted actions for economic, social and cultural rights, and had an unstinting commitment to ensure full enjoyment of these rights.
PREETI SARAN, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the dialogue which had been impressively organised. It was heartening to hear that the Covenant and other human rights treaties had been integrated into Uruguayan legislation. Ms. Saran thanked the delegation for travelling such a long way and for their participation, as well as all those who made the dialogue possible.
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not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CESCR26.003E