E/C.12/SDN/CO/2 expenditures diverting funds away from sectors such as education, health and social protection, which receive only marginal allocations from the State budget. (art. 2) 16. The Committee urges the State party to: (a) Improve public governance and ensure transparency, in law and in practice, in the conduct of public affairs, including in the administration of humanitarian and development aid, and the granting of natural resources exploitation licences and the management of revenues therefrom; (b) Combat corruption and related impunity effectively, including by protecting whistle-blowers, strengthening the independence of anti-corruption institutions and putting in place safe mechanisms at the national and local levels for submitting complaints and reporting irregularities; (c) Invest every effort, including through the national reconciliation process, to seek a sustainable settlement of the conflicts in the State party, reduce security and military spending and allocate more resources to the reconstruction of conflictaffected areas; (d) Increase public social investments to address the concerns contained herein related to the limited enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. Austerity measures 17. While noting the need for fiscal adjustments subsequent to the loss of an important share of the State party’s budget revenue, the Committee is concerned that measures taken to mitigate the effect of the austerity programme have further corroded the enjoyment of certain Covenant rights, such as the right to food, especially by the most marginalized and disadvantaged groups. (art. 2) 18. Referring to the letter dated 16 May 2012 addressed by the Chair of the Committee to States parties on austerity measures, the Committee recalls that policy reforms should identify and protect the minimum core content of Covenant rights at all times and should not disproportionately affect marginalized and disadvantaged groups. The Committee also recommends that the State party ensure that its obligations under the Covenant are duly taken into account in negotiations with international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. Non-discrimination 19. The Committee notes with concern the discriminatory provisions affecting women, religious minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons that are still in force in the State party, including those contained in the Criminal Law Act, the Personal Status Act, the Public Service Regulations, the Social Insurance Act and the Sudanese Nationality Act. The Committee is also concerned at the lack of legislation to implement the constitutional and Covenant provisions on non-discrimination. Moreover, the Committee is particularly concerned at reports of discrimination of individuals on the basis of religion and of sexual orientation and gender identity. (art. 2) 20. The Committee urges the State party to amend legal provisions that are discriminatory or have a discriminatory effect on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, in accordance with article 2 of the Covenant. The Committee also recommends that the State party adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law defining, prohibiting and punishing discrimination. The law should cover not only direct but also indirect discrimination and provide for the implementation of temporary special measures and remedies for victims. Furthermore, the Committee 4