E/C.12/HND/CO/2
(f)
The First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, on 7 June 2005;
(g)
The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, on 1 April 2008;
(h)
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
involvement of children in armed conflict, on 14 August 2002;
(i)
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, on 8 May 2002.
4.
The Committee also welcomes the State party’s adoption of:
(a)
The Food and Nutrition Security Act, on 29 March 2011, and the National
Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Strategy, on 24 August 2010;
(b)
The Public Policy and National Action Plan on Human Rights, on 12 March
(c)
The Social Protection Policy, on 8 March 2012;
2013;
(d)
The National Policy on Women and the Second Gender Equality and Equity
Plan 2010-2022;
(e)
C.
The National Mental Health Policy, in 2004.
Principal subjects of concern and recommendations
Justiciability of the Covenant rights
5.
The Committee welcomes the valuable information provided by the State party on
cases in which the Covenant has been invoked by courts at the highest levels, but regrets
that this practice continues to be quite limited. The Committee also welcomes the
delegation’s statement that consultations need to be launched on ratification of the Optional
Protocol to the Covenant.
6.
The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary steps to
promote the enjoyment of all the rights recognized in the Covenant, such as by
offering training on the content of those rights, including the Committee’s general
comments concerning what those rights cover, publicizing the possibility of invoking
the Covenant before the courts, with a special focus on judges, lawyers and law
enforcement officials and on members of the National Congress and other officials
responsible for implementation of the Covenant, and organizing awareness campaigns
for rights holders. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to general
comment No. 9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant, and asks that it
include in its next report information on cases in which Covenant rights have been
invoked by the national courts. The Committee encourages the State party to continue
its efforts towards ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant.
Cooperation with civil society
7.
The Committee takes note of the information provided by the State party on its
efforts to increase involvement by civil society organizations, but it is concerned that
initiatives thus far have been insufficient to guarantee full, broad and representative
participation by stakeholders across society.
8.
The Committee recommends that the State party make a greater effort to
establish constructive cooperation with civil society organizations with a view to
2
GE.16-11828