The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) | Shadow report
rights. In this regard, the Committee recalls its statement on public debt,
austerity measures and the Covenant.25
Non-discrimination
23. The Committee is concerned about the absence of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation providing full and effective protection against all
forms of discrimination prohibited under the Covenant and about reports
of discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and
gender identity (arts. 2 (2)).
24. The Committee recommends that the State party enact comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation that provides full and effective protection against
discrimination in all spheres and contains a comprehensive list of prohibited
grounds for discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity,
as also recommended by the Human Rights Committee.26 In this regard, the
Committee recalls its general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights.
Equal rights of men and women
25. The Committee is concerned that gender disparities persist, in particular
in relation to the gender pay gap. The Committee is also concerned that
women’s representation in senior positions in the public and private sector
remains unsatisfactory (arts. 3 and 7).
26. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Intensify its efforts to close the gender pay gap, including by addressing
the gender-based segregation in the labour market, reviewing its social and tax policies and addressing the factors that discourage women
from continuing their careers or taking up full-time employment;
(b) Enhance women’s participation in senior public and private positions,
including by considering quotas.
27. In this regard, the Committee recalls its general comment No. 16 (2005) on
the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social
and cultural rights.
25
26
E/C.12/2016/1.
CCPR/C/PSE/CO/1, para. 12 (a).
30