E/C.12/1/Add.80 page 2 4. The Committee takes note with satisfaction of the adoption of legislation during the past five years, including the Equal Opportunity Act, the Domestic Violence Act, the Maternity Protection Act and the Children (Amendment) Act. 5. The Committee welcomes the State party’s ratification of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto. 6. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Domestic Violence Unit within the Gender Affairs Division. 7. The Committee commends the introduction of free secondary education for all. C. Factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of the Covenant 8. The Committee takes note from the statement of the delegation that the current political stalemate in the State party is impeding the enactment of legislation relating to the advancement and full realization of economic, social and cultural rights for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. D. Principal subjects of concern 9. The Committee is deeply concerned that the State party has not incorporated or reflected the Covenant or its provisions in the domestic legal order and that the State party could not provide information on case law in which rights contained in the Covenant were invoked before the courts. 10. The Committee is concerned that the State party has not yet formulated a comprehensive plan of action on human rights in accordance with paragraph 71 of the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. 11. The Committee is concerned that economic, social and cultural rights are not part of the mandate of the Ombudsman. 12. The Committee notes with concern that the State party has not ratified a number of ILO Conventions relevant to economic, social and cultural rights and that it has denounced various human rights instruments, including the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 13. The Committee is concerned at the lack of disaggregated data in the State party’s report and written replies, especially with regard to gender participation in employment, participation of women and children in the informal sector and poverty, in particular with regard to disadvantaged and marginalized groups. 14. The Committee is concerned about the lack of specific and comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in the State party. The Committee is particularly concerned that the Equal Opportunity Act 2000 does not afford protection to individuals on the grounds of sexual orientation, age and HIV/AIDS status, among others.