E/C.12/CHN/CO/2 Recalling its previous recommendation (E/C.12/1/Add.107, para. 56) and its general comment No. 19 (2008) on the right to social security, the Committee urges the State party: (a) To strengthen its efforts to extend the coverage of the social security system, especially to individuals belonging to ethnic minorities, to rural residents and rural-to-urban migrants, as well as to informal sector workers; (b) To adopt the necessary measures to ensure that the amount of social assistance benefits is sufficient to cover the real costs of living, including by setting up an effective and transparent indexation system; (c) To undertake information and awareness-raising campaigns throughout the country to inform beneficiaries about the programmes and initiatives in place to promote their access to, and enjoyment of their right to, social security. Family planning 25. The Committee, while welcoming the decision to revise the “one-child policy” by allowing couples to have a second child when one of the parents is an only child, remains concerned that there continue to be restrictions on the opportunity for persons to freely decide on the number of children they have (art. 10). The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures, including the revision of its family planning policies, to ensure that everyone can freely and responsibly decide on the number and spacing of their children. The Committee further urges the State party to step up its efforts to raise awareness on modern contraceptive methods and to provide age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health. 26. The Committee, while noting information provided by the State party that the Population and Family Planning Law prohibits the use of coercive measures for the implementation of the birth quota, remains seriously concerned about reported instances of the use of coercive measures, including forced abortion and forced sterilization, with a view to limiting births (arts. 10 and 12). The Committee urges the State party to take further action to prevent and criminalize effectively the use of coercive measures, such as forced abortions and forced sterilization, in the implementation of the birth control policy. The Committee urges the State party to investigate effectively, without further delay, all cases of forced abortion and forced sterilization and to hold accountable those responsible for such acts. The Committee also recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to ensure that victims receive adequate compensation. Domestic violence 27. The Committee is concerned that, in spite of the matter being under consideration for several years, the State party has still not adopted specific legislation criminalizing domestic violence. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of effective measures to prevent instances of domestic violence, as well as the lack of support services to protect victims (art. 10). The Committee recommends that the State party speed up the process of adoption of specific legislation on domestic violence and categorize such acts as criminal offences. The Committee urges the State party to take all necessary effective measures to prevent incidents of domestic violence and to protect all victims by providing adequate access to shelters for immediate physical protection, legal aid and medical services, as well as to remedies and compensation. The Committee also urges the State 8

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