E/C.12/GMB/CO/1
Data collection
8.
The Committee is concerned about the absence of reliable disaggregated statistics
that would allow for an accurate assessment of the progressive realization of economic,
social and cultural rights in the State party (art. 2, para. 1).
The Committee recommends that the State party collect data and produce and use
statistics for human rights indicators, including for economic, social and cultural
rights. In this respect, the Committee refers the State party to the conceptual and
methodological framework for human rights indicators developed by the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (HRI/MC/2008/3). The State
party is also requested to include in its next periodic report statistical data on the
enjoyment of each Covenant right, disaggregated by age, sex and urban/rural
population on an annual basis.
Corruption
9.
The Committee is concerned about the prevalence of corruption in the State party
and about the lack of effective implementation of the legal provisions criminalizing
corruption, in particular in the public sector (art. 2, para. 1).
The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to combat
corruption and related impunity and ensure that public affairs, in law and in practice,
are conducted in a transparent manner. It also recommends that the State party make
politicians, members of parliament and government officials aware of the economic
and social costs of corruption, and make judges, prosecutors and the police aware of
the need for strict enforcement of the law.
Maximum available resources
10.
While appreciating the increase in the budget allocated for education, the Committee
expresses its concern that allocations for health and social welfare remain very low. The
Committee is also concerned about the lack of updated information on the State party’s
public spending necessary for the enjoyment of the Covenant’s rights (art. 2, para. 1).
The Committee recommends that the State party regularly evaluate the budget
allocations made for the implementation of the Covenant rights in order to assess
whether the maximum available resources are being used in progressively achieving
the full realization of these rights. In doing so, the State party should take into account
the Committee’s general comment No. 3 (1990) on the nature of States parties’
obligations. The State party is also requested to provide, in its next periodic report,
updated information on public spending for the realization of Covenant rights.
National human rights institution
11.
While noting that the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Office of the
Ombudsman, the Committee is concerned about the absence of a national human rights
institution in the State party (art. 2, para. 1).
In the light of its general comment No. 10 (1998) on the role of national human rights
institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights, the Committee
recommends that the State party adopt the draft bill for the establishment of a
national human rights commission without further delay and establish a national
human rights institution that is provided with the necessary resources, in compliance
with the principles relating to the status of national institutions (the Paris Principles).
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