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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/CZE/CO/3</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 March 2022</p> <p>Original: English</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 style="font-weight:bold;">Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Czechia *</h2> <p>1.The Committee considered the third periodic report of Czechiaat its eighth, ninth and tenth meetings,held on 17 and 18 February 2022, and adopted the present concluding observations at its thirtieth meeting, held on 4 March 2022.</p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>2.The Committee welcomes the submission by the State party of its third periodic report, the supplementary information provided in the replies to the list of issues,and the statistical data contained therein. The Committee also appreciates the frank, open and constructive dialogue with the State party s delegation.</p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>3.The Committee welcomes the legislative, institutional and policy measures taken to increase protection of economic, social and cultural rights in the State party, including its  Strategic Framework Czech Republic 2030 and the national recovery plan. The Committee also welcomes specific strategies on health, education, employment and social inclusion up to 2030, and other measures mentioned in the present concluding observations.</p> <h3>C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations</h3> <h3>Domestic application of the Covenant</h3> <p>4.The Committee notes that the Covenant is part of the constitutional order, and accordingly, economic, social and cultural rights are protected by the State party s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. The Committee further notes that the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Administrative Court referred to the Covenant on various occasions. However, it regrets the lack of information on decisions adopted by lower courts and administrative instances that invoke the Covenant. It is also concerned that article 41 (1) of the Charter can have adverse impact on the enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights covered by its scope, taking into account the wider margin of appreciation of policies while implementing these rights.Additionally,theCommitteeisconcernedaboutinsufficientinformationrelatedtoeffectiveremediesincasesofviolationof the rights contained in the Covenant (art. 2 (1)).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">5. The Committee recommends that the State party:</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(a) E nsure that economic, social and cultural rights can be invoked by courts at all levels and administrative instances, and facilitate access to effective remedies for victims of violations of these rights;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(b) Enhance training for members of the judiciary, lawyers and public officials on the Covenant and the justiciability of the rights therein, and raise awareness about this topic among the general public , in particular the rights holders ;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(c) Take into account its general comment No. 9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant.</p> <h3>National human rights institution</h3> <p>6.While recognizing the important role of the Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsperson), the Committee remains concerned that the competence of the Ombudsperson does not cover all fundamental rights and freedoms. It is also concerned that follow-up to the study on the establishment of a national human rights institution remains pending (art.2(1)).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">7. The Committee recommends that the State party establish expeditiously a national human rights institution with a broad mandate in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). It should further ensure the allocation of sufficient human, technical and financial resources to that institution to enable it to fully exercise its mandate in relation to economic, social and cultural rights.</p> <h3>Climate change</h3> <p>8.The Committee notes with satisfaction the climate protection policy, the progress made with the national action plan on adaptation to climate change, and initiatives such as the boiler subsidies investment programme. The Committee also notes the substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but is concerned that that decline has practically ceased in recent years. Furthermore, it is concerned that the economy s emissions remain among the highest in the European Union. The Committee is concerned that the State party has a carbon-intensive economy that exposes the population to highly polluted air (art. 2 (1)).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">9. The Committee recommends that the State party:</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(a) Enhance its adaptation efforts to address the adverse impacts of climate change on economic, social and cultural rights, including by taking measures to achieve its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement, in order to reduce emissions;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(b) Promote alternative and renewable energy sources, for example, with the restructuring of the coal-mining regions;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(c) Take into account the statement of the Committee on climate change and the Covenant, adopted on 8 October 2018.</p> <h3>International cooperation</h3> <p>10.TheCommitteenoteswithappreciationtheattentionpaidtoclimatechangebytheStateparty,inparticularthroughitscontribution to the Green Climate Fund,anditsfundingofmitigationandadaptationactivitiesinrecipientcountries.However,theCommitteeregretsthattheStatepartyhasnotreachedthe0.7percenttargetforofficialdevelopmentassistanceofgrossnationalincome,asrecommendedbytheUnitedNations,nor even the 0.33 per cent committed to the European Union. The Committee notes that support to the climate finance instrument is to ideally be provided in addition to officialdevelopmentassistance(art.2).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">11. The Committee recommends that the State party step up its efforts to increase its international official development assistance first to meet the target of 0.33 per cent, then ultimately to 0.7 per cent of its gross national income, while maintaining or increasing its contribution to the Green Climate Fund . It also encourages the State party to continue to strengthen its activities in the area of international cooperation.</p> <h3>Non-discrimination</h3> <p>12.While noting targeted policies and strategies adopted by the State party, the Committee is concerned about persistentdiscrimination,hatespeech,prejudicesandstereotypesdirectedtowardscertain individuals and marginalized and disadvantaged groups. The Committee is further concerned that the shift of the burden of proof does not apply in all cases of discrimination. It is also concerned that the failure to report discrimination is associated with the low degree of trust in the government institutions. Furthermore, theCommitteeisconcernedaboutdiscriminationbasedongenderidentityandsexualorientation,andregretsthat,intheabsenceoftherecognitionofsame-sexmarriage,registeredpartnershipsdonotprovideprotectionequivalenttomarriage(art. 2 (2)).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">13. The Committee recommends that the State party:</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(a) Redouble its efforts to prevent and combat discrimination, in particular against Roma, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, including by implementing strategies with an intersectional approach;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(b) Conduct awareness-raising campaigns and provide information on procedures to report cases of discrimination and mechanisms available to victims ;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(c) Ensure that law enforcement officers, judiciary personnel and other public officials are properly trained so that they can perform their functions and fulfil their obligations professionally with victim- centered approach;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(d) Amend the Civil Procedure Code to ensure the same level of protection for all victims of discrimination regardless of the grounds and area of discrimination;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(e) Ensure that registered partnerships of those in same-sex relationships are provided with protection equivalent to marriage of people in heterosexual relationships;</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">(f) Take into account its general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights.</p> <h3>Discrimination against Roma</h3> <p>14.While acknowledgingthe Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2021 2030 and initiatives such as the national Roma pl