CERD/C/MDA/CO/7 page 3 The Committee recommends that the State party consider adopting comprehensive non-discrimination legislation protecting both citizens and, subject to reasonable differentiations, non-citizens, and that it include a definition of direct and indirect discrimination, as well as provisions on adequate sanctions, compensation and on a shared burden of proof in civil proceedings. 11. The Committee notes with concern reports regarding the decrease in the budget of the Bureau for Inter-Ethnic Relations, the central public administrative body promoting inter-ethnic relations and the rights of citizens to manifest their ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity. It also notes that the division for national minorities, inter-ethnic relations and languages of the Bureau is understaffed, and that its advisory body, the Coordinating Council of Ethnic and Cultural Organizations, has failed to represent the interests of national minorities effectively (arts. 2 (1) (e)). The Committee recommends that the State party allocate sufficient resources to the Bureau for Inter-Ethnic Relations, in particular its division for national minorities, inter-ethnic relations and languages, and that it strengthen the independence of the Coordinating Council of Ethnic and Cultural Organizations. 12. While acknowledging that the plan of action to provide support for the Roma for the period 2007-2010 (Government decision No. 1453 of 21 December 2006) includes special measures in the fields of employment, health care, social welfare, protection of children, education and culture, the Committee notes with concern that the Bureau for Inter-Ethnic Relations has reportedly failed to elaborate annual plans for the implementation of the plan of action, and that non-governmental organizations allegedly have no access to information on the implementation of the plan of action (art. 2 (2)). The Committee recommends that the State party elaborate annual plans for the implementation of the plan of action in support of the Roma population (2007-2010) and that information on any measures taken or envisaged to implement the plan of action be made available to the public in order to ensure that non-governmental organizations, in particular Roma organizations, can participate effectively in the implementation and monitoring of the plan. 13. The Committee notes with concern that public and religious organizations that pursue extremist activities, including incitement to racial, national and religious hatred, and mass media agencies disseminating materials of such extremist nature are not in practice declared illegal and prohibited under articles 6 and 7 of the Law on Combating Extremist Activity. It also notes with concern that only very few complaints have been registered and investigated under these provisions and under articles 135, 176 and 346 of the Criminal Code (arts. 4 and 6). The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that articles 6 and 7 of the Law on Combating Extremist Activity and other relevant criminal law provisions are applied in full conformity with article 4 of the Convention. It reminds the State party that the absence of complaints and legal action by victims of racial discrimination may be merely an indication of a lack of awareness of the availability of legal remedies or of insufficient will on the part of the authorities to prosecute. In that regard, the Committee recommends that the State party introduce mandatory

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