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/></td> <td> <p style="font-size:1.4em;">United Nations</p> </td> <td> <p> <span style="font-size:2em;">E</span>/C.12/CYP/CO/6</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:2em;">Economic and Social Council</p> </td> <td> <p>Distr.: General</p> <p>28 October 2016</p> <p> </p> <p>Original: English</p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="content"> <p>Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights</p> <h2 style="font-weight:bold;">Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Cyprus *</h2> <p>1.The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the sixth periodic report of Cyprus on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/CYP/6) at its 53rd and 54th meetings (see E/C.12/2016/SR.53 and 54) held on 20 and 21 September 2016, and adopted the following concluding observations at its 78th meeting, held on 7 October 2016.</p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>2.The Committee welcomes the submission of the sixth periodic report of the State party and the supplementary information provided in the replies to the list of issues (E/C.12/CYP/Q/6/Add.1). The Committee appreciates the constructive dialogue held with the State party s high-level delegation.</p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>3.The Committee welcomes the adoption by the State party of:</p> <p>(a)The National Action Plan for Youth Employment 2015-2017;</p> <p>(b)The Law on the Minimum Guaranteed Income and Generally on Social Provision, in 2014;</p> <p>(c)The Law on Equal Pay for Men and Women for Equal Work or Work of Equal Value (Amendment), in 2014;</p> <p>(d)The National Action Plan on Gender Equality 2014-2017;</p> <p>(e)The Safety and Health at Work (Amendment) Law, in 2011;</p> <p>(f)The Maternity Protection (Amendment) Law, in 2011;</p> <p>(g)The Equal Treatment of Men and Women in Employment and Vocational Training (Amendment) Law, in 2009;</p> <p>(h)The Recruitment of Persons with Disabilities in the Wider Public Sector (Special Regulations) Law, in 2009.</p> <p>4.The Committee also welcomes the ratification by the State party of:</p> <p>(a)The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2011; </p> <p>(b)The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in 2010;</p> <p>(c)The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in 2009.</p> <h3>C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations</h3> <h3>Domestic application of the Covenant</h3> <p>5.The Committee notes that the Covenant has supremacy over all domestic laws under the Constitution and may be invoked in the courts and that there are Supreme Court judgments on cases relating to economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee is, however, concerned that the Constitution does not incorporate all the rights enshrined in the Covenant. It regrets the lack of information on decisions invoking the Covenant adopted by lower courts.</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">6. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures to ensure that the rights enshrined in the Covenant are fully incorporated in its domestic legal order and, as with civil and political rights, have constitutional rank in order to ensure that they are protected by the domestic courts at all levels. It also recommends that the State party enhance training for judges, lawyers and public officials on the Covenant. The Committee draws the State party s attention to its general comment No. 9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant. </p> <h3>The Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights</h3> <p>7.The Committee is concerned that the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights is not fully compliant with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). It is particularly concerned about the lack of a transparent and participatory process for the selection and appointment of the Commissioner, the absence of explicit legal provisions on the promotional mandate of the Commissioner, the insufficient level of funding and the lack of financial and administrative autonomy.</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">8. The Committee recommends that the State party take all measures necessary to ensure that the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights is fully compliant with the Paris Principles. In particular, it recommends that the State party:</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(a) Base the appointment process on the principles of openness, participation and transparency; </p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(b) Ensure that the promotional mandate of the Commissioner is explicitly provided by law; </p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(c) Allocate sufficient resources to, and ensure the financial autonomy of, the Office of the Commissioner;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(d) Empower the Office of the Commissioner to recruit its own staff. </p> <h3>Legal aid</h3> <p>9.The Committee is concerned that, despite the measures taken by the State party, disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups still find it difficult to claim their economic, social and cultural rights owing to the limited access to free legal aid. It notes the lack of detailed information on legal aid programmes in the State party, including the number of beneficiaries