E/C.12/MKD/CO/2-4 Maximum available resources 15. The Committee is concerned at the overall low level of public funding allocated to the areas relating to economic, social and cultural rights. It is also concerned that some decisions concerning resource allocation have not been transparent and have not prioritized the duties of the State party under the Covenant (art. 2 (1)). 16. The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to increase the level of public spending, at both the national and municipal levels, in order to ensure the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights. It also recommends that the State party take all measures necessary to ensure that the planning and spending of public funds is carried out in a transparent manner. Corruption 17. The Committee is concerned at the pervasive practice of bribery for the provision of goods or services required to fulfil economic and social rights and at the low number of prosecutions on the basis of the Law on Prevention of Corruption of 2002, particularly in cases involving high-level officials (art. 2 (1)). 18. The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to: (a) Combat corruption, including by improving public governance and ensuring transparency in the conduct of public affairs and raising awareness of public and government officials on anti-corruption measures, as well as about the unacceptability of bribery; (b) Strengthen the enforcement of the Law on Prevention of Corruption and combat impunity for corruption, particularly involving high-level officials; (c) Enhance the independence and functioning of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption. Non-discrimination 19. The Committee welcomes the evaluation carried out by the State party on the implementation of the Law on Prevention of and Protection against Discrimination. The Committee is concerned, however, that there are some gaps in the Law, particularly as regards the definition of discrimination, grounds of discrimination, burden of proof and the use of statistics to prove the existence of indirect discrimination. It is also concerned at the lack of independence and the ineffective functioning of the Commission for Prevention of and Protection against Discrimination (art. 2 (2)). 20. The Committee recommends that the State party take all measures necessary to follow up on the recommendations contained in the final report on the ex post evaluation of the implementation of the Law on Prevention of and Protection against Discrimination. In particular, it recommends that the State party: (a) Revise the Law on Prevention of and Protection against Discrimination, in particular by improving the definition of discrimination in line with general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights; (b) Expedite the adoption of the draft national strategy for equality and non-discrimination for 2016-2020; (c) Strengthen the independence and functioning of the Commission for Prevention of and Protection against Discrimination, including through a review of the appointment criteria and the procedure for becoming a member, the 4