E/C.12/HND/CO/2 (f) Take all steps necessary to prevent and combat ongoing discrimination against all disadvantaged or marginalized persons or groups, including through awareness campaigns, so that those persons and groups may fully exercise their Covenant rights. Gender equality 23. Notwithstanding the implementation of the Second Gender Equality and Equity Plan 2010-2022, the Committee is concerned by the continued inequality between men and women, in particular in terms of access to employment, health care and social security. The Committee regrets that rural women, indigenous women and women of African descent continue to be victims of multiple and cross-sectoral discrimination, which is reflected in the high poverty rate among these groups (art. 3). 24. In the light of its general comment No. 16 (2005) on the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take the necessary legislative and other measures to eliminate the persistent inequality between men and women and seek to ensure unrestricted access for women to education, employment, health care, social security and land; (b) Adopt measures to eradicate the multiple and cross-sectoral discrimination faced by rural women, indigenous women and women of African descent by incorporating the principle of gender equality into resource allocation and poverty reduction policies, among other measures. Violence against women 25. The Committee is deeply concerned by the continued existence of stereotypes and attitudes that lead to violence against women and finds it regrettable that, notwithstanding the steps taken by the State party, there continues to be a climate of impunity and fear that prevents victims from reporting acts of violence (arts. 3 and 10). 26. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take all necessary steps to effectively prevent acts of violence against women, including domestic violence and femicide; (b) Step up its efforts to provide protection to all victims of violence, ensuring that they have access to justice through effective remedies, including means of obtaining reparation and compensation, and suitable access to shelters where they can receive immediate physical protection, legal advice and physical and mental health care; (c) Thoroughly investigate cases of violence against women, including domestic violence and femicide, and order appropriate punishment for those found responsible; (d) Organize information campaigns to raise public awareness, and provide law enforcement officials and judges with training as to the seriousness and criminal nature of violence against women, including domestic violence. Unemployment and underemployment 27. The Committee is concerned that the various programmes launched by the State party, such as the National Hourly Employment Programme and the “Life is Better with a Job” Presidential Programme, are not effective enough in bringing down the high rates of unemployment and underemployment. The Committee is concerned by the information 6 GE.16-11828