* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-eighth session (23 October–17 November 2017).

Concluding observations on the combined initial and second periodic reports of Nauru *

1.The Committee considered the combined initial and second periodic reports of Nauru (CEDAW/C/NRU/1–2) at its 1538th and 1539th meetings (see CEDAW/C/SR.1538 and CEDAW/C/SR.1539), held on 27 October 2017. The Committee’s list of issues and questions is contained in CEDAW/C/NRU/Q/1–2 and the responses of Nauru are contained in CEDAW/C/NRU/Q/1–2/Add.1.

A.Introduction

2.The Committee appreciates the submission by the State party of its combined initial and second periodic reports. It also appreciates the State party’s written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-sessional working group, as well as the oral presentation by the delegation and the further clarifications provided in response to the questions posed orally by the Committee during the dialogue.

3.The Committee commends the State party on its high-level delegation, which was headed by the Minister for Home Affairs, Health, Education and Land Management, Charmaine Scotty, and included the Secretary for Home Affairs and representatives of the Women’s Affairs Department, the Division of Family and Community Services and the Child Protection Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as the Regional Rights Resource Team of the Pacific Community.

B.Positive aspects

4.The Committee welcomes the progress achieved since the entry into force of the Convention for the State party in 2011 in undertaking legislative reforms, in particular the adoption of the following:

(a)Domestic Violence and Family Protection Act 2017;

(b)Public Service Act 2016, ensuring equal pay for work of equal value, as well as maternity and paternity leave;

(c)Crimes Act 2016, repealing the Criminal Code 1899 and broadening the definition of rape, criminalizing marital rape and removing the corroboration requirement in sexual offences and the admissibility of a complainant’s sexual history;

(d)Adoption of Children (Amendment) Act 2015, allowing more opportunities for both girls and boys to be adopted by families;

(e)Education Act 2011, ensuring that women and girls have equal access to education, increasing the age of compulsory education from 16 to 18 years and outlining disciplinary action for sexual harassment in schools.

5.The Committee welcomes the State party’s efforts to improve its institutional and policy framework aimed at accelerating the elimination of discrimination against women and promoting gender equality, such as the adoption of the following:

(a)National policy on disability (2015), addressing concerns and issues faced by persons with disabilities, including women and girls;

(b)National women’s policy (2014–2024), providing direction for the Government, civil society and community representatives in achieving goals relating to the promotion of gender equality;

(c)Young women’s action plan (2009–2015);

(d)Women’s plan of action (2005–2015), aiming to improve the quality of women’s lives;

(e)National sustainable development strategy (2005–2025), recognizing the rights of women, promoting equal opportunities and expressing a commitment to integrating gender across all sectors;

(f)Gender country plan, providing support for women and girls affected by domestic violence, alcohol and teenage pregnancy.

6.The Committee welcomes the fact that, since the entry into force of the Convention for the State party, it has ratified or acceded to the following international instruments:

(a)Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Optional Protocol thereto, in 2012 and 2013, respectively;

(b)Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in 2012.

C.Parliament

7. The Committee stresses the crucial role of the legislative power in ensuring the full implementation of the Convention (see the statement by the Committee on its relationship with parliamentarians, adopted at the forty-fifth session, in 2010). It invites Parliament, in line with its mandate, to take the necessary steps regarding the implementation of the present concluding observations between now and the next reporting period under the Convention.

D.Principal areas of concern and recommendations

Visibility of the Convention

8.The Committee is concerned that the application of the Convention has been limited in practice and that the Convention has not been given sufficient visibility as a legal basis for measures aimed at the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and the promotion of gender equality in the State party.

9. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Convention and the Committee ’ s general recommendations are sufficiently known and applied by all branches of the Government, including Parliament and the judiciary, as a framework for all laws, court decisions and policies on gender equality and the advancement of women.

Definition of discrimination

10.The Committee notes that the Constitution establishes the entitlement to fundamental rights and freedoms regardless of sex. The Committee is concerned, however, about the absence of a comprehensive definition of discrimination against women and the principle of equality of women and men in accordance with articles 1 and 2 (a) of the Convention. The Committee is also concerned that the Constitution does not explicitly prohibit intersecting forms of discrimination affecting women. This gap results in a lack of adequate legislation and specific measures for the realization of the rights of women in Nauru.

11. The Committee recommends that, within a clearly defined time frame, the State party:

(a) Incorporate into the Constitution a comprehensive definition of discrimination against women, in line with article 1 of the Convention, covering direct, indirect and intersecting forms of discrimination, as well as discrimination in the public and private spheres;

(b) Incorporate the principle of equality between women and men into the Constitution;

(c) Review all existing laws, including legislation governing marriage and family relations, and eliminate all discriminatory provisions to ensure that the laws are compatible with the principles of equality and non-discrimination, as enshrined in the Convention.

Access to justice

12.The Committee notes with appreciation that free legal aid is provided to women through the Public Defender’s Office, and that women with insufficient financial means are able to apply for a reduction of court fees. However, the Committee is concerned that many women are not aware of their rights and how to claim them. It also notes with concern that many victims who report gender-based violence to the police often refrain from filing court cases.

13. Recalling its general recommendation No. 33 (2015) on women ’ s access to justice, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Implement targeted outreach activities to effectively disseminate information about justice mechanisms, legal schemes and how women can gain access to them, and promote a social environment in which it is both legitimate and acceptable for women to claim their rights;

(b) Ensure that women and girls have access to legal aid services and effective remedies for violations of their rights;

(c) Provide relevant training for judges, prosecutors, the police and other law enforcement officers to enhance their capacity to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate cases of violations of women ’ s rights in accordance with national laws and relevant international instruments.

National machinery for the advancement of women

14.The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Women’s Affairs Department, the Division of Family and Community Services and the Child Protection Services Division within the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, the Committee is concerned that sufficient human and financial resources have not been allocated to the Department, restricting it from taking proactive action for gender equality and thereby weakening its authority and capacity to ensure coordination within the Government.

15. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Allocate sufficient human and financial resources to the Women ’ s Affairs Department;

(b) Further strengthen the authority of the Women ’ s Affairs Department within the Government and its capacity to ensure coordination among relevant institutions;

(c) Develop a gender mainstreaming strategy that includes gender-responsive budgeting and can be applied in all policies and programmes at all levels to address various aspects of women ’ s lives;

(d) Design and implement substantial programmes, including a national action plan to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a view to achieving gender equality;

(e) Develop a national mechanism for the systematic collection of data, disaggregated by sex, age, disability, ethnicity and other relevant factors, to assess progress in achieving gender equality and women ’ s empowerment in both the public and the private spheres;

(f) Use the findings of the Nauru Family Health and Support Study (2014) to inform related policies, and work in cooperation with women ’ s organizations, men as partners, media and the private sector.

Temporary special measures

16.The Committee is concerned about the absence of any temporary special measures in the legislation or policies of the State party, and that both women and men opposed the introduction of temporary special measures, indicating an incorrect public understanding of the purpose and non-discriminatory nature of such measures.

17. In line with article 4 (1) of the Convention and recalling its general recommendation No. 25 (2004) on temporary special measures, the Committee recommends that the State party adopt and implement temporary special measures, including goals, statutory quotas and gender-responsive budgeting, directed at achieving substantive equality of women and men in all areas in which women are disadvantaged or underrepresented, in particular in political and public life, education, employment and health.

Stereotypes and harmful practices

18.The Committee is concerned about prevalent social and cultural stereotypes in the State party, that society in Nauru considers the primary role of a woman to be that of a wife and homemaker and that men assert control over women with regard to their clothing, mobility and behaviour. The prevalence of gender stereotyping results in further subordination of women and girls, undermining their social status and autonomy and constituting an underlying cause of gender-based violence against women. The Committee is also concerned that the State party has not adequately addressed this issue.

19. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Strengthen education and awareness-raising campaigns targeting women and men at all levels of society, including political, community and religious leaders and teachers, on the substantive equality of women and men, to sensitize them with regard to gender equality and the important role of women and their contributions in the public and private domains;

(b) Revise educational programmes, curricula and textbooks to eliminate manifestations of patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotyping, with the aim of modifying the structural and cultural causes of discrimination against women;

(c) Engage the media, including social media, in combating discriminatory stereotypes and projecting positive images of women and the equal status of women and men in public and private life.

Gender-based violence against women

20.The Committee welcomes the State party’s efforts to address gender-based violence, including the adoption of the new Crimes Act and the establishment of support services for both victims and perpetrators. However, the Committee is concerned about:

(a)The high prevalence of gender-based violence against women, including domestic and sexual violence;

(b)The fact that women rarely report cases of gender-based violence to the police for various reasons, including discriminatory stereotypes, the stigma attached to victims and a lack of trust in the police;

(c)The limited capacity of the authorities, including the forensic capacity of the police, to investigate allegations of gender-based violence against women and to respond adequately;

(d)The lack of systematic data collection on investigation, prosecution and sentencing with regard to acts of gender-based violence against women;

(e)The limited capacity of the Safe House shelter to effectively respond to the needs of victims of violence.

21. Recalling its general recommendation No. 35 (2017) on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Develop and implement comprehensive legislation and policies, including national action plans, to prevent and respond adequately to gender-based violence against women, including domestic violence;

(b) Develop effective mechanisms that address gender-based violence, including a multisectoral national referral mechanism involving judges, local police officers, social and health workers and other related personnel;

(c) Train law enforcement officers, including the police and the judiciary, as well as health service providers and social workers, to ensure that they are able to respond adequately to the needs of victims of gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, paying particular attention to disadvantaged groups such as women with disabilities and refugee and asylum-seeking women;

(d) Strengthen and expand the services of the Safe House and other shelters to provide women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence with access to counselling and legal services, vocational training and access to income-generating opportunities;

(e) Develop and implement awareness-raising campaigns, targeted at women, men, girls and boys, to change social and cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality and gender-based violence against women and to dismantle the stigma attached to victims;

(f) Ensure that sufficient financial and other resources are made available to effectively implement laws, policies and programmes in place to prevent and address violence against women;

(g) Collect statistical data, disaggregated by sex, age and relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, and data on the number of prosecutions and convictions and the sentences imposed on perpetrators.

Trafficking and exploitation of prostitution

22.The Committee is concerned about the limited efforts to address trafficking in persons and exploitation of prostitution in the State party and the general lack of awareness of the issue. The Committee is also concerned about the limited capacity to identify victims of trafficking and the lack of specialized training on trafficking for law enforcement personnel.

23. The Committee recommends that the State party provide training for officials, including women, in law enforcement and relevant departments on trafficking in persons and exploitation of prostitution in order to increase their ability to identify and provide assistance to potential victims of trafficking. It also recommends that the State party develop a mechanism to address trafficking in persons and exploitation of prostitution in accordance with relevant international instruments, and prevent such trafficking and exploitation of prostitution through, among other things, public awareness campaigns on the risks and criminal nature of trafficking.

Participation in political and public life

24.The Committee notes that there are no legal provisions in the State party preventing the equal participation of women in political and public life, and welcomes the initiatives of the State party to promote the political participation of women, including through awareness-raising programmes. The Committee is concerned, however, that women are significantly underrepresented in Parliament and the Government, in particular at decision-making levels, and that discriminatory stereotypes, nepotism and favouritism constitute barriers to the full and equal participation of women in political and public life.

25. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Develop a global strategy for ensuring that women are appointed to decision-making positions on an equal footing with their male counterparts, including through training, gender-sensitive recruitment and other measures;

(b) Adopt temporary special measures, such as statutory quotas, for the representation of women in Parliament and in the Government, in particular in decision-making positions, with a view to accelerating progress towards the substantive equality of women and men in political and public life;

(c) Provide training on leadership skills for women, in particular potential candidates, to prepare and empower them for elected positions and public office;

(d) Undertake awareness-raising activities on the importance of the full and equal participation of women in political and public life;

(e) Fully involve women in the formulation of policies, programmes and action plans on development, climate change and land inheritance and use.

Nationality

26.The Committee welcomes the recent amendment to the legislation on citizenship to provide equal rights to citizenship for women and men who were born in Nauru. However, article 74 of the Constitution allows a Nauruan man to transfer citizenship to his foreign wife, but there is no entitlement for a Nauruan woman to do the same for her foreign husband. The Committee is concerned that the Constitution discriminates against Nauruan women in this regard.

27. The Committee recommends that the State party amend article 74 of its Constitution to ensure equal rights for both women and men to acquire, change, retain or transfer their nationality, in line with article 9 of the Convention.

Education

28.The Committee commends the State party on the measures taken to improve school enrolment and completion rates, in particular by raising the age for compulsory education from 16 to 18 years, providing incentives to children who complete their schooling and introducing a re-entry programme for those who have dropped out of the education system. It also notes the efforts made by the State party to develop school curricula and community outreach programmes on sexual and reproductive health, together with development partners. However, the Committee notes with concern the following:

(a)The reported decline in enrolment rates, low secondary school completion rates and low achievement levels of girls and the limited opportunities for women and girls to attend university;

(b)The high dropout rate of girls from school owing to, among other things, early pregnancy;

(c)The underrepresentation of women and girls in non-traditional fields of study and career paths such as technology, mathematics and science;

(d)The lack of age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including responsible sexual behaviour, in schools, and the absence of training for teachers in non-discrimination and gender equality;

(e)Reports that refugee and asylum-seeking girls are subject to harassment, bullying and violence, causing them to drop out of school.

29. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Make efforts to increase the completion, retention and enrolment rates of women and girls at all levels of education, including by providing more scholarships for girls and incentives and subsidies for their families;

(b) Ensure that girls re-entering school after having dropped out owing to pregnancy or other caregiving responsibilities are able to complete school, by analysing and addressing the obstacles that they face;

(c) Encourage and train women and girls to pursue non-traditional fields of study and career paths, for example in science, engineering and management, through awareness-raising, scholarships and role models;

(d) Integrate age-appropriate comprehensive education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including responsible sexual behaviour, with a focus on preventing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and train teachers to address such topics in a gender-sensitive manner;

(e) Ensure that legislation and policies on education are gender-sensitive, and integrate gender equality into education at all levels.

Employment

30.The Committee welcomes the Public Service Act 2016, which stipulates the principle of equal pay for work of equal value and provides for an entitlement to maternity leave after a woman has completed six months of employment. However, the Committee is concerned that women working in the private sector do not have a similar entitlement. It is also concerned about the absence of legislation to prohibit and address sex-based discrimination in the workplace, the lack of elder-care and childcare facilities, the high unemployment rate among women and the limited employment opportunities for women.

31. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Adopt legislation prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace in both the public and the private sectors and establish a formal complaint mechanism enabling victims to seek redress;

(b) Ensure the right to paid maternity and paternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and adequate sick leave in both the public and the private sectors, and explicitly prohibit dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy as well as discrimination on the basis of marital status;

(c) Increase women ’ s access to full-time employment in the formal sector, including by providing affordable public elder-care and childcare facilities to enable both caregivers and parents to reconcile work and family life;

(d) Strengthen public awareness programmes focusing, in particular, on the importance of sharing family responsibilities;

(e) Promote entrepreneurship and enterprise development by increasing women ’ s access to microcredit schemes, information, skills training and new technology.

Health

32.The Committee commends the State party on its investment in health, including the provision of free medical services, as well as the newly upgraded hospital and the piloting of community clinics in one district. However, the Committee remains concerned about the overall health situation of women, in particular with regard to:

(a)The lack of sexual and reproductive health services, including limited access to modern contraceptives, for women and girls;

(b)The high rate of early pregnancy and the resulting high number of early marriages;

(c)The criminalization of abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threats to the life and health of the mother, including medical proof of severe fetal impairment, and limited access to safe and legal abortion facilities;

(d)The requirement of the husband’s consent in health decisions relating to reproductive rights, including for tubal ligation, which is inconsistent with article 63 of the Crimes Act and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 24 (1999) on women and health;

(e)The absence of health data in general, and in particular on the prevalence of cervical and breast cancer and on the treatment available to women and girls;

(f)The mental health status of women, in particular among refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls, and the inadequacy of measures taken to address the physical and psychological trauma of women who are victims of violence.

33. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Accelerate the adoption of a public health law and a comprehensive national strategy for strengthening women ’ s rights to health, including through the roll-out of adequately resourced and staffed community clinics to the remaining districts;

(b) Promote access for women and girls to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including access to confidential counselling, family planning services, affordable modern contraceptives and accurate information relating to responsible sexual behaviour, the prevention of early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections;

(c) Adopt a comprehensive national programme, with clear targets and indicators, aimed at preventing early pregnancy, which should include a study on the (currently low) use of contraceptives, especially among young people, and ensure free access to modern contraceptive methods for all women and girls;

(d) Decriminalize abortion in all cases and ensure women ’ s access to safe abortion, including by training medical personnel, so that safe abortions can be provided in a timely fashion within the State party and abroad;

(e) Amend its legislation to remove the requirement of the husband ’ s consent in health decisions relating to reproductive rights, including for tubal ligation, and ensure that health workers are made aware of the Committee ’ s general recommendation No. 24;

(f) Collect disaggregated data on the prevalence of cervical and breast cancer, provide medical and health professionals with training on early detection and allocate resources for the establishment of an oncological ward to provide regular and timely cancer screening for women;

(g) Provide access to mental health services for women, in particular refugee and asylum-seeking women, and disseminate information about available mental health services.

Environment and phosphate mining

34.The Committee notes the specific environmental challenges faced by the State party, in particular with respect to the future prospects for local food production, which affect the health and well-being of women and girls in Nauru. The Committee is concerned that the negative consequences of long-term phosphate mining for the health of women remain unaddressed.

35. The Committee recommends that the State party take a gender-sensitive approach to the planning and implementation of policies and programmes on land rehabilitation and development. The Committee also recommends that the State party ensure that such policies and programmes fully take into account the needs and concerns of women, and that women fully participate in all related decision-making processes. It also recommends that the State party take special measures to address the health concerns of women resulting from phosphate mining.

Impact of climate change on women

36.The Committee notes the vulnerability of the State party to climate change and is concerned that the impact of climate change disproportionately affects women and girls and that women are not given adequate opportunities to participate meaningfully in policymaking and decision-making processes on climate change and disaster risk reduction.

37. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that women are able to participate fully and meaningfully in the planning and implementation of relevant policies and programmes, including in decision-making bodies. It also recommends that a gender perspective be integrated into national policies and programmes to ensure that women ’ s needs and concerns are fully considered and reflected and that the impact of such policies and programmes on women is assessed.

Women’s access to land

38.Although the Committee notes that the State party is historically a matrilineal society, it is concerned that the current land ownership system does not guarantee women equal rights to land ownership and inheritance, despite the fact that households headed by women account for more than one third of all households. It is also concerned that the views of women are not fully taken into account in decision-making processes relating to the inheritance, leasing or use of land.

39. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Ensure that women have equal rights to land ownership and land inheritance and eliminate discriminatory practices that affect their full enjoyment of those rights, including by ensuring that community leaders, judges and magistrates are trained to uphold women ’ s land rights;

(b) Ensure the full and meaningful participation of women in the negotiation of agreements on land leasing and use and ensure that their livelihoods are not negatively affected by such agreements.

Women with disabilities

40.The Committee welcomes efforts by the State party to address the needs of women and girls with disabilities, including the provision of social benefits and the upgrading of school infrastructure to make it accessible for pupils with disabilities. However, the Committee is concerned that most persons with disabilities live at home, placing a disproportionate care burden on women, and that girls with disabilities are not included in the regular education system.

41. The Committee recommends that the State party develop public care facilities for persons with disabilities and provide reasonable accommodation for girls with disabilities to study in the regular education system. It also recommends that the State party take effective measures to protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities and ensure that they have access to health care, social life and economic opportunities.

Refugee and asylum-seeking women

42.The Committee notes the efforts made by the State party to improve the situation of refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls sent by Australia and currently living at the Regional Processing Centre and detention camps. It is nevertheless concerned about their vulnerability to intersecting forms of discrimination and their limited access to basic services, including health, education and employment opportunities, and their overall safety and security. The Committee is also concerned about the high incidence of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, against refugee and asylum-seeking women and the mental harm caused by prolonged detention.

43. The Committee recommends that the State party provide refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls with adequate access to health services, including mental health and counselling services, education and employment opportunities and ensure their overall safety and security. The Committee also recommends that the State party provide adequate protection and redress for refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence, ensuring that they have access to free legal aid and bringing perpetrators to justice without impunity.

Marriage and family relations

44.The Committee notes the establishment of a separate family court. However, it is concerned that the current legislation governing marriage and family relations is outdated and contains discriminatory provisions relating to de facto relationships, contributions to pregnancy and childbirth costs by fathers in the case of unmarried couples, maintenance orders, distribution of property, custody, adoption and access to children that are contrary to the Convention.

45. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Review, after due consultation with stakeholders, including women ’ s groups, all current legislation governing marriage and family relations, including the Maintenance Act 1959, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Guardianship of Children Act 1975 and the Adoption of Children (Amendment) Act 2015, to ensure their compatibility with the principle of equality and non-discrimination and to bring them into full compliance with the Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

(b) Amend or repeal all discriminatory provisions in relation to legal capacity, marriage, divorce, de facto relationships, land inheritance, child custody and adoption;

(c) Consolidate and strengthen the various family law provisions into one unified, comprehensive family code to ensure equality of women and men in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody;

(d) Ensure the status and legal protection of the economic rights of women in de facto unions, and of children born from such unions, in line with the Committee ’ s general recommendation No. 29 (2013) on the economic consequences of marriage, family relations and their dissolution;

(e) Allocate sufficient human, technical and financial resources to the family court, including staff specialized in family law and psychologists and counsellors, and ensure that judicial officers are given adequate training in general and for the development of skills to assist in the reconciliation process.

Optional Protocol to the Convention

46. The Committee encourages the State party to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

47. The Committee calls upon the State party to use the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in its efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention.

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

48. The Committee calls for the realization of substantive gender equality, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, throughout the process of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Dissemination

49. The Committee requests the State party to ensure the timely dissemination of the present concluding observations, in the official languages of the State party, to the relevant State institutions at all levels (national, regional and local), in particular to the Government, the ministries, Parliament and the judiciary, to enable their full implementation.

Technical assistance

50. The Committee recommends that the State party link the implementation of the Convention to its development efforts and that it avail itself of regional or international technical assistance in this respect.

Ratification of other treaties

51. The Committee notes that the adherence of the State party to the nine major international human rights instruments w ould enhance the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms in all aspects of life. The Committee therefore encourages the State party to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, to which it is not yet a party.

Follow-up to the concluding observations

52. The Committee requests the State party to provide, within two years, written information on the steps taken to implement the recommendations contained in paragraphs 29 (b), 33 (b), 33 (f) and 39 (a) above.

Preparation of the next report

53. The Committee invites the State party to submit its third periodic report in November 2021. The report should be submitted on time and, in case of delay, should cover the entire period up to the time of its submission.

54.The Committee requests the State party to follow the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents (see HRI/GEN/2/Rev.6, chap. I).