E/C.12/CYP/CO/6 Legal aid 9. The Committee is concerned that, despite the measures taken by the State party, disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups still find it difficult to claim their economic, social and cultural rights owing to the limited access to free legal aid. It notes the lack of detailed information on legal aid programmes in the State party, including the number of beneficiaries of, and the budget allocated to, those programmes. 10. The Committee recommends that the State party step up its efforts to provide free legal aid to persons who need it, particularly women, persons with disabilities, migrant workers and asylum seekers, and to ensure that the coverage, eligibility and services provided are adequate. Maximum available resources 11. While noting the recent economic crisis in the State party and the accomplishment of the macroeconomic adjustment programme, the Committee notes with concern the continuing significant decrease in public spending, particularly in the areas of social protection, housing, health and education, under fiscal consolidation measures. It is also concerned that those measures have had a disproportionately adverse impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups. It notes that there is no information provided by the State party on the comprehensive impact of austerity measures on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights (art. 2 (1)). 12. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Review, while applying human rights standards, all the measures that have been taken in response to the economic crisis with a view to ensuring everyone’s enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. In this regard, it draws the State party’s attention to its open letter dated 16 May 2012 to States parties on economic, social and cultural rights in the context of the economic and financial crisis, in particular to the requirements that austerity policies must meet. It also draws the State party’s attention to its 2016 statement on public debt, austerity measures and the Covenant (E/C.12/2016/1); (b) Ensure that austerity measures are gradually phased out and that the effective protection of the rights under the Covenant is enhanced in line with the progress achieved in the post-crisis economic recovery; (c) Restore the pre-crisis levels of public services and social benefits; (d) Institute human rights impact assessments in its policymaking processes. Non-discrimination 13. The Committee is concerned at the persistent discrimination against non-European Union migrants (third country migrants), Turkish Cypriots and members of ethnic minorities, especially Roma. While noting the legal and institutional measures taken by the State party to combat discrimination, the Committee is concerned at the remaining discriminatory provisions in existing legislation, such as section 5 of the Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation Law of 2004, which does not cover discrimination based on nationality, the legal protection gap regarding multiple discrimination or the limited scope of anti-discrimination jurisprudence, reportedly owing to the lack of awareness of the anti-discrimination laws (arts. 2 (2) and 3). 14. The Committee recommends that the State party further strengthen its antidiscrimination legislative framework, including by reviewing the existing anti- 3