E/C.12/MKD/CO/1 Page 2 Opportunities of Men and Women establishing Gender Equality Commissions in several cities and providing for the appointment of gender coordinators in all local self-government units in the State party. 5. The Committee notes the proposed constitutional amendment envisaging compulsory secondary education, as well as the recent introduction of one year of compulsory preschooling. 6. The Committee welcomes the favourable position of the State party concerning the elaboration of an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 7. The Committee notes with appreciation the State party’s recent ratification of several human rights treaties, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the European Social Charter and Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights. C. Factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of the Covenant 8. The Committee notes the absence of any significant factors or difficulties preventing the effective implementation of the Covenant in the State party. D. Principal subjects of concern 9. The Committee is concerned that, although the Human Rights Ombudsman is competent to investigate complaints about alleged violations of economic, social and cultural rights, the Ombudsman’s requests for information and recommendations relating to such complaints have not always been acted upon. 10. The Committee regrets the absence of court decisions directly applying the rights recognized in the Covenant. 11. The Committee notes with concern that areas such as housing, health care and access to services are not covered by specific anti-discrimination legislation and that existing anti-discrimination provisions are often vague, fail to specify the consequences in case of violations, are rarely invoked in court, or stipulate undue citizenship requirements. 12. The Committee is concerned at reports that Roma face widespread discrimination in access to employment, social assistance, health care and education, that Roma and Albanian applicants sometimes experience difficulties in obtaining citizenship, and that a certain number of Roma lack personal documents, such as identity cards, birth certificates and medical insurance or employment cards, which are necessary for them to access social insurance, health care and other benefits. 13. The Committee notes with concern that women, in particular Roma women and women living in rural areas, only have limited economic opportunities and frequently work in the informal or low-paid sectors or are employed in lower positions and receive lower salaries than men, irrespective of their qualifications.