10.The Committee regrets the absence of case law on the application of the Covenant by Serbian and Montenegrin courts. 11.The Committee is concerned that there is no systematic and comprehensive anti discrimination legislation in Serbia and Montenegro at the level of the Republics or the State Union. 12.The Committee expresses its deep concern about reported incidents of inter-ethnic violence and racially motivated acts against ethnic minorities such as the Roma. 13.The Committee is deeply concerned that, despite the State party’s efforts to improve the economic and social situation of Roma through National Plans of Action for the implementation of the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005-2015) in both Republics, widespread discrimination against Roma persists with regard to employment, social security, housing, health care and education. 14.The Committee expresses its deep concern about the uncertain residence status of and the limited access by refugees, returnees from third countries and internally displaced persons, including internally displaced Roma, to personal identification documents, which are a requirement for numerous entitlements such as eligibility to work, to apply for unemployment and other social security benefits, or to register for school. 15.The Committee regrets the absence of a law on gender equality as well as the low representation of women in government offices and in the parliaments of both Republics and of the State Union. 16.The Committee is concerned about the high unemployment rate in Serbia and in Montenegro, especially among women, persons with disabilities, Roma and internally displaced persons. 17.The Committee is equally concerned that many persons, especially Roma, internally displaced persons and refugees, work in the informal economy or in the low-income sector without adequate working conditions and social security coverage. 18.The Committee notes with concern that only a small number of workers are unionized in the private sector and that the registration of trade unions is subject to strict requirements, including authorization by the Minister of the Interior, who has the power to dissolve trade unions. 19.The Committee is equally concerned about the broad definition of the concept of “essential services”, including professions such as teachers and postal workers. The Committee is also concerned that the right to strike can only be exercised if strict conditions are met, and that participation in a strike can lead not only to the suspension of wages but also of social security rights. 20.The Committee is concerned about the very low unemployment benefit coverage in the State party. 21.The Committee notes that the recent Law on Pensions and Disability Insurance of the Republic of Serbia has introduced stricter requirements for eligibility for old-age and disability pensions in order to guarantee the financial sustainability of the pensions system, and expresses its concern that those who do not comply with these requirements will be left without adequate social assistance. 22.The Committee is concerned that a large number of Krajina Serbs and internally displaced persons from Kosovo above the retirement age have reportedly not received their pensions for years. 23.The Committee expresses its deep concern about the high incidence of domestic violence, often resulting from psychological distress caused by unemployment and traumatic disorders related to armed conflict. 24.The Committee is equally concerned about the high incidence of child abuse in the State party. 25.The Committee is deeply concerned about the high numbers of trafficked women and children for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour, as well as about reported incidents of police involvement. 26.The Committee notes with concern that many Roma children below the minimum working age of 15 years work in the informal economy without being covered by the labour code’s special provisions on protection of minors. 27.The Committee notes with concern that 10.6 per cent of the Serbian population and 12.2 per cent of the Montenegrin population currently live below the poverty line and that another 25,000 persons in Serbia would fall below the poverty line if it were increased slightly. 28.The Committee is concerned about the extent of poverty among older persons and about the fact that home care is still insufficiently developed. 29.The Committee notes with concern that poverty among Roma is between four and five times higher than among the general population. 30.The Committee is gravely concerned about the poor conditions in which thousands of Roma families live in sub-standard informal settlements without access to basic services such as electricity, running water, sewage facilities, medical care and schools. 31.The Committee is deeply concerned that many refugees, internally displaced persons and Roma are being evicted from illegal collective centres and informal settlements which are being closed down without sufficient provision of adequate alternative housing. 32.The Committee is concerned about the lack of direct access to safe drinking water in 17.5 per cent of rural households in Serbia and about the poor quality of water in central Serbia.