CCPR/CO/71/UZB page 5 17. The Committee is concerned about the broad notion of “rights and interests of the Republic of Uzbekistan” as a general limitation on the enjoyment of human rights in article 16 which, taken together with article 20 of the State party’s Constitution, gives rise to apprehension that human rights could be restricted at the discretion of the State. The State party should take measures effectively to ensure that these articles of the Constitution are not used for the purposes of restricting human rights, contrary to article 2 of the Covenant. 18. The Committee is particularly concerned about the definition of “State secrets and other secrets” as defined in the Law on the Protection of State Secrets. It observes that the definition includes issues relating, inter alia, to science, banking and the commercial sector and is concerned that these restrictions on the freedom to receive and impart information are too wide to be consistent with article 19 of the Covenant. The State party should amend the Law on the Protection of State Secrets to define and considerably reduce the types of issues that are defined as “State secrets and other secrets”, thereby, bringing this law into compliance with article 19 of the Covenant. 19. The Committee expresses grave concern about the prevalence of violence against women, including domestic violence. The State party should take effective measures to combat violence against women, including marital rape, and ensure that violence against women constitutes an offence punishable under criminal law. The State party should also organize awareness campaigns to address all forms of violence against women, including domestic violence, in order to comply fully with articles 3, 6, 7 and 26 of the Covenant. 20. The Committee is concerned that the traditional attitudes to women, whereby a woman’s role continues to be seen by the State primarily as that of wife and mother, exclusively responsible for children and the family, make the establishment of equality for women very difficult. The Committee is also concerned about the limited contribution by women to civil society (articles 3 and 26 of the Covenant). The State party should take measures to overcome traditional attitudes regarding the role of women in society. It should take steps to increase the number of women in decision-making bodies at all levels and in all areas. It should also organize special training programmes for women and regular awareness campaigns in this regard. 21. The Committee expresses its concern about cases of children being detained, arrested and held in custody without being able to exercise their right to a lawyer, and subjected to ill-treatment and unlawful investigative methods, in contravention of articles 7, 10 and 24 of the Covenant. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of information on this subject and on the policy the State party intends to pursue to address this problem.