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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/GBR/CO/6</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.8em;">Economic and Social Council</p> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p>Distr.: General</p> <p>14 July 2016</p> <p> </p> <p>Original: English</p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="content"> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.2em;">Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights</p> <h2>Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland* </h2> <p>1.The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/GBR/6) at its 36th and 37th meetings (see E/C.12/2016/SR.36 and 37), held on 15 and 16 June 2016, and adopted the following concluding observations at its 49th meeting, held on 24 June 2016.</p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>2.The Committee welcomes the sixth periodic report submitted by the State party and the supplementary information provided in the replies to the list of issues (E/C.12/GBR/Q/6/Add.1). The Committee also welcomes the constructive dialogue held with the interministerial delegation of the State party, including the governments of Scotland and Wales. The Committee regrets that the absence of representatives of the government of Northern Ireland did not enable it to make a full assessment of the enjoyment of Covenant rights in Northern Ireland.</p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>3.The Committee welcomes the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 8 June 2009 and of its Optional Protocol on 7 August 2009.</p> <p>4.The Committee notes with appreciation the adoption of the following legislation:</p> <p>(a)Modern Slavery Act 2015;</p> <p>(b)Care Act 2014;</p> <p>(c)The New Scots: Integrating Refugees in Scotland s Communities (2014­2017); </p> <p>(d)Scotland s National Action Plan for Human Rights (2013-2017).</p> <h3>C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations</h3> <h3>Justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights</h3> <p>5.While the Committee takes note of the State party s views on the incorporation of the Covenant rights into the domestic legislation, the Committee regrets that the Covenant rights cannot be applied directly by domestic courts, which may restrict access to effective legal remedies for violations of Covenant rights. </p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">6. The Committee recalls its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 13) and urges the State party to fully incorporate the Covenant rights into its domestic legal order and ensure that victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights have full access to effective legal remedies. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its general comment No. 9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant.</p> <h3>Devolved administrations</h3> <p>7.While noting the complex structure of the State party, with devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as its responsibility with regard to the British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies, the Committee regrets the lack of involvement and participation of Northern Ireland in the review process and the limited information available on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in the British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies (art. 2).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">8. In line with its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 12), the Committee reminds the State party of its ultimate responsibility for the implementation of the Covenant in all its jurisdictions, including the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment of economic, social cultural rights by all persons under its jurisdiction.</p> <h3>Bill of rights</h3> <p>9.The Committee takes note of the concern raised by national stakeholders with regard to the announced plan to replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with a new British bill of rights that the new legislation may lower the status of international and regional human rights standards, including on economic, social and cultural rights, in the State party. The Committee regrets that a bill of rights for Northern Ireland has not yet been adopted, as provided by the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">10. The Committee recommends that the State party undertake a broad public consultation on its plan to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 as well as on the proposal for a new bill of rights. It also recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to ensure that any new legislation in this regard is aimed at enhancing the status of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, in the domestic legal order and that it provide effective protection of those rights across all jurisdictions of the State party. The Committee recalls its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 10) and urges the State party to take all necessary measures to expedite the adoption of a bill of rights for Northern Ireland.</p> <h3>Business and economic, social and cultural rights</h3> <p>11.The Committee welcomes the adoption of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. However, the Committee is concerned about the lack of a regulatory framework to ensure that companies operating in the State party, as well as companies domiciled under its jurisdiction acting abroad, fully respect economic, social and cultural rights. (art. 2 (1)).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">12. The Committee recommends that the State party:</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(a) Establish a clear regulatory framework for companies operating in the State party to ensure that their activities do not negatively affect the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural human rights;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(b) Adopt appropriate legislative and administrative measures to ensure the legal liability of companies domiciled under the State party s jurisdiction for violations of economic, social and cultural rights in their projects abroad committed directly by these companies or resulting from the activities of their subsidiaries;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(c) Conduct thorough risk assessments prior to granting licences for arms exports and refuse or suspend such licences when there is a risk that arms could be used to violate human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights.</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">13. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its statement on the obligations of States parties regarding the corporate sector and economic, social and cultural rights (E/2012/22-E/C.12/2011/3, annex VI, sect. A).</p> <h3>International development cooperation</h3> <p>14.While welcoming the achievement by the State party of the international target of allocating 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance in the framework of international cooperation, the Committee is concerned that in some cases the assistance provided has reportedly been used for activities in contravention of economic, social and cultural rights in the receiving countries. The Committee is particularly concerned about the financial support provided by the State party to private actors for low-cost and private education projects in developing countries, which may have contributed to undermining the quality of free public education and created segregation and discrimination among pupils and students (arts. 2, 13 and 14).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">15