E/C.12/SRB/CO/2
Maximum available resources
10.
The Committee regrets the absence of sufficient information on the use of maximum
available resources by the State party in achieving progressively the full realization of the
rights recognized in the Covenant (art. 2, para. 1).
The Committee recommends that the State party regularly evaluate the impact of the
measures taken, including against corruption, and the budget allocations made for the
implementation of the Covenant in order to assess whether the maximum available
resources have been used in achieving progressively the full realization of the rights
recognized in the Covenant, taking into account the Committee’s general comment
No. 3 (1990) on the nature of States parties’ obligations and its statement of 2007 on
the obligation to take steps to the maximum of available resources.
Discrimination
11.
The Committee is concerned that members of national and ethnic minorities, persons
with disabilities, refugees and internally displaced persons, including Roma, and other
marginalized groups continue to face discrimination with regard to access to economic,
social and cultural rights. The Committee is also concerned that the anti-discrimination
legislation is not systematically applied, as evidenced by the low numbers of concluded
cases related to discrimination (art. 2, para. 2).
The Committee urges the State party to:
(a)
Intensify its efforts to promote equality and combat discrimination
against members of ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, refugees and internally
displaced persons, including Roma, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons
and other marginalized persons and groups with regard to access to employment,
social security, housing, health and education;
(b)
Systematically apply the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination and other
relevant legislation, as well as the Strategy for Prevention and Protection against
Discrimination 2013–2018, in order to prevent and punish all acts of discrimination,
taking due account of all prohibited grounds of discrimination as contained in
article 2, paragraph 2, of the Covenant and elaborated in the Committee’s general
comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights.
Roma
12.
The Committee is concerned about the prevailing discrimination against Roma as
evidenced, inter alia, by disproportionately high unemployment, limited access to social
security, accommodation in informal settlements, and inadequate health care and education.
The Committee therefore regrets the shortcomings in the implementation of the Strategy for
Improvement of the Status of Roma 2012–2014, as conceded by the State party, and the
insufficient implementation of the nationally agreed priorities regarding Roma at the local
level (art. 2).
The Committee urges the State party to take further measures in order to overcome
the prevailing discrimination against Roma in the enjoyment of economic, social and
cultural rights, including the revision of the Strategy for Improvement of the Status of
Roma, by better reflecting the specific situation of Roma and ensuring that the
nationally agreed priorities on Roma are duly communicated to the local authorities
to be effectively implemented.
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