E/C.12/MDA/CO/3 education and other services. It is particularly concerned that the recent decentralization of Government appears to have further exacerbated the situation, owing to the varying levels of capacity and political will of local governments. The Committee is further concerned at the disproportionately adverse impacts on disadvantaged and marginalized persons, such as Roma and persons with disabilities. 13. The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to address rural-urban inequalities with a view to ensuring that all people in both rural and urban areas fully enjoy the rights enshrined in the Covenant. It also recommends that the State party strengthen the financial, administrative and infrastructural capacity of local government at the provincial and municipal levels; improve the coordination between the central and local governments and the monitoring of social services provided by local governments; ensure that the decentralization process does not adversely affect disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups; and conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the decentralization process on the enjoyment of Covenant rights. Furthermore, reminding the State party that the decentralization by no means reduces the responsibility for fulfilling its obligations under the Covenant, the Committee recommends that the State party increase the awareness of local authorities regarding their obligations under the Covenant. Maximum available resources 14. The Committee is concerned that public expenditure on social security, housing and basic services, health care and education has decreased as a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP) during the reporting period and the level remains low (art. 2 (1)). 15. The Committee recommends that the State party substantially increase the level of public social expenditure, at both the national and local levels, to ensure the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, especially with regard to social security, housing, water and sanitation, health care and education. Corruption 16. While noting the measures taken by the State party to combat corruption, the Committee remains concerned about the prevalence of corruption in the public sector, particularly in the judiciary, and the widespread practice of bribery to obtain public services, particularly in the health-care and education sectors. It is also concerned that despite the increase in the number of cases reported and in the number of convictions, in most cases, prosecutions for corruption are limited to low-level public officials (art. 2 (1)). 17. The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to combat corruption and in particular: (a) Raise awareness among the general public and government officials on the need to combat corruption, including bribery; (b) Strengthen the enforcement of anti-corruption laws and combat impunity for corruption, particularly involving high-level officials; (c) Strengthen the capacity of the judiciary to respond to corruption and ensure the effective protection of victims of corruption, their lawyers, anti-corruption activists, whistle-blowers and witnesses; (d) Improve public governance and ensure transparency in the conduct of public affairs. Non-discrimination 18. The Committee is concerned that anti-discrimination provisions, including law No. 121 on ensuring equality, do not provide for the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds referred to in article 2 (2) of the Covenant and in all aspects of life, or address multiple and intersectional discrimination (art. 2 (2)). 19. The Committee recommends that the State party review its anti-discrimination legislation, particularly the law on ensuring equality, with a view to providing for the 3