A/HRC/32/48 121. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation, echoed in 2015 during the universal periodic review (A/HRC/ 30/3, paras. 129.24 – 129.28), that the authorities of Belarus enact, in order to address discrimination and the impunity thereof effectively, comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation prohibiting any kind of discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, language, political conviction or physical or mental disability, and at the same time establish mechanisms to ensure the constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination and provide for remedies at law in cases of discrimination. 1. Gender 122. Although women are chosen to occupy various positions in the State apparatus, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in 2011, in its concluding observations on Belarus, called upon the State to consider adopting a law on gender equality or comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, including a clear definition of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW/C/BLR/CO/7, para. 12). Domestic violence, wage disparities and participation in political life and decision-making processes remain recurring challenges. 123. Belarus has not yet introduced legislation on domestic violence and marital rape. 21 The Government’s efforts to combat gender-based violence have been mainly directed at preventing such crimes, not at protecting or assisting victims. Moreover, authorities have not tackled the root causes of violence, including alcoholism, social stigma and genderbased stereotypes.22 The United Nations Population Fund has pledged to support the Government’s efforts to develop and adopt a law on domestic violence 124. Despite the provisions of article 14 of the Labour Code, which prohibits any discrimination in labour relations, gender inequality in the labour market is still an issue.23 For instance, independent non-governmental women’s organizations have reported that women are paid at least 25 per cent less than men. 24 125. At its second universal periodic review, in 2015, States recommended that Belarus should continue implementation of its plan to combat discrimination against women and make further investment in the protection and promotion of women’s rights to encourage their participation in decision-making processes (see A/HRC/ 30/3, para. 127). 2. Persons with disabilities 126. The Special Rapporteur commends the signing by Belarus of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto on 28 September 2015. Owing to the absence of a specific prohibition of discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities, however, persons with disabilities continue to face physical and regulatory barriers, challenges to their access to work and education, and stereotyping (A/HRC/29/43, para. 120). The Special Rapporteur therefore recommends that the Government bring legislation and practice into conformity with the provisions of the Convention. 21 22 23 24 20 Civil Rights Defenders, “Human Rights in Belarus”, 7 July 2015. United States Department of State, 2014 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – Belarus, 25 June 2015 (available from www.refworld.org/docid/559bd58112.html). See ODB Brussels, “Global Call for Proposal 2015 under EIDHR Announced”, 14 September 2015. United States Department of State, 2014 Country Reports – Belarus (see footnote 23 above).