E/C.12/UGA/CO/1
4.
The Committee also welcomes the adoption of the following legislative and policy
measures:
(a)
Anti-Money-Laundering Act, 2013;
(b)
Domestic Violence Act, 2010;
(c)
Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2010;
(d)
Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009;
(e)
Equal Opportunities Commission Act, 2007;
(f)
Employment Act, 2006;
(g)
Employment (Employment of Children) Regulations, 2012;
(h)
National Land Policy, 2013;
(i)
National Action Plan on Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour
(2012/2013–2016/2017);
C.
(j)
National Development Plans (2010/2011–2014/2015);
(k)
National Employment Policy, 2011;
(l)
National Gender Policy, 2007.
Principal subjects of concern and recommendations
Domestic application of the Covenant
5.
In view of the fact that the Covenant has no direct applicability in the domestic legal
order, the Committee is concerned that not all Covenant rights are protected in the State
party’s Constitution or laws and hence are not justiciable in courts (art. 1).
The Committee recommends that the State party take legislative and other
appropriate measures to fully incorporate the Covenant into national laws so as to
ensure the applicability of all Covenant rights in domestic courts. It should ensure
that legal and judicial training take full account of the justiciability of these rights,
and that it promote the use of the Covenant as a source of domestic law. The
Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 9 (1998) on
the domestic application of the Covenant.
The judiciary
6.
The Committee is concerned about institutional weaknesses in the judiciary, notably
the insufficient number of judges despite the increasing workload that leads to protraction
of court cases and in turn denial of justice, including in cases on economic, social and
cultural rights.
The Committee encourages the State party to reinforce the judiciary, including
by allocating the necessary resources and increasing the number of judges so that
justice can be accessed and achieved without delay.
Data collection
7.
The Committee regrets the absence of adequate and up-to-date statistics that would
allow for an accurate assessment of the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights in
the State party (art. 2 (1)).
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