United Nations Economic and Social Council E/C.12/BLR/CO/4-6 Distr.: General 13 December 2013 Original: English Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concluding observations on the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of Belarus* 1. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of Belarus on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/BLR/4-6) at its 43rd and 44th meetings, held on 13 November 2013 (E/C.12/2013/SR.43-44), and adopted, at its 68th meeting, held on 29 November 2013, the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee appreciates the submission of the combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of Belarus (E/C.12/BLR/4-6), which are in conformity with the Committee’s reporting guidelines, but regrets the delay in the submission of the reports. The Committee also welcomes the submission of the common core document (HRI/CORE/BLR/2011). The Committee expresses its appreciation for the detailed written replies to the list of issues (E/C.12/BLR/Q/4-6/Add.1) as well as the constructive dialogue with the State party’s highlevel interministerial delegation. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee welcomes the State party’s ratification of, or accession to, various human rights instruments since the last dialogue with the State party in 1996: (a) Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, on 23 January 2002 and on the involvement of children in armed conflict, on 25 January 2006; (b) WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, on 8 September 2005; (c) Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, on 3 February 2004; * Adopted by the Committee at its fifty-first session (4-29 November 2013). GE.13-49653 *1349653*