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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/ROU/CO/3-5</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.8em;">Economic and Social Council</p> </td> <td> <p>Distr.: General</p> <p>9 December 2014</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 combined third to fifth periodic reports of Romania *</h2> <p>1.The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the combined third to fifth periodic reports of Romania on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/ROU/3-5) at its 58th and 59th meetings (E/C.12/2014/SR.58 and 59), held on 20 and 21 November 2014, and adopted, at its 70th meeting (E/C.12/2014/SR.70), held on 28 November 2014, the following concluding observations.</p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>2.The Committee welcomes the submission, albeit late, of the combined third to fifth periodic reports of Romania, the written replies to the list of issues (E/C.12/ROU/Q/3-5/Add.1) and the statistical data contained therein. However, the written replies did not cover articles 11 to 15 of the Covenant. The Committee also welcomes the opportunity to engage with the State party s delegation and expresses appreciation for the frank and constructive dialogue and the information provided in writing during and after the dialogue. However, it regrets the absence of State representatives from the capital in the delegation. </p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>3.The Committee welcomes the State party s ratification of the following human rights instruments since the last dialogue in 1994:</p> <p>(a)The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in January 2011;</p> <p>(b)The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in July 2009;</p> <p>(c)The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in August 2003;</p> <p>(d)The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in October 2001, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in November 2001;</p> <p>(e)The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, in January 2006;</p> <p>(f)The Hague Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect to Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children, in November 2006;</p> <p>(g)International Labour Organization Convention No. 182 (1999) concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, in December 2000.</p> <p>4.The Committee welcomes the following legislative and policy measures taken by the State party:</p> <p>(a)The adoption of Law 257/2013 on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, measures in the field of child protection, including the re-establishment, as of April 2014, of the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of the Child;</p> <p>(b)The adoption of a new strategy for gender equality 2014 2017; </p> <p>(c)The National Strategy for Employment 2014 2020.</p> <h3>C.Principal subjects of concern and recommendations</h3> <h3>Domestic application of the Covenant</h3> <p>5.The Committee regrets the fact that, although the Covenant takes precedence over domestic laws, the State party has not provided information on cases in which the Covenant has been applied by domestic courts.</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">The Committee recommends that the State party take the appropriate steps to increase judges , lawyers and prosecutors familiarity with the Covenant in order to ensure that its provisions are taken into account in domestic court decisions. It also draws the State party s atten tion to its general comment No.  9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant.</p> <h3>National human rights institution</h3> <p>6.The Committee notes that the areas of competence of the various institutions and bodies promoting and protecting human rights and combating discrimination, particularly the Romanian Institute for Human Rights, the Ombudsman, and the National Council for Combating Discrimination, overlap, which reduces their effectiveness in terms of mandate and resources. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned that the Romanian Institute for Human Rights does not fully comply with the principles relating to the status of national institutionsfor the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">The Committee recommends that the State party reinforce the independence, efficiency and effectiveness of the institutions promoting and protecting human rights and combating discrimination in Romania, including by clarifying the ir competencies and streamlining their structures, and ensuring that they benefit from adequate human and financial resources to contribute to the implementation of economic, soci