A/66/44 (c) Convention on the Rights of the Child, on 28 September 1992; (d) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, on 23 December 1985; (e) June 2010; United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, on 17 (f) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, on 17 June 2010; (g) Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, on 18 June 1993; (h) Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, on 13 July 2010. (5) The Committee welcomes the enactment of the following legislation: (a) Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act of 2008; (b) International Criminal Court Act of 2006. (6) The Committee also welcomes the development of the National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking of Human Beings in Ireland, 2009–2012. (7) The Committee further welcomes the development of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, 2010–2014. C. Principal subjects of concern and recommendations Reduction of financial resources for human rights institutions (8) While welcoming the commitment by the State party to provide resources for human rights institutions, the Committee expresses concern at information received on the disproportionate budget cuts to various human rights institutions mandated to promote and monitor human rights, such as the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC), in comparison to other public institutions. Furthermore, while noting the decision to move IHRC from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to the Department of Justice and Equality, the Committee regrets that IHRC does not have direct accountability to Parliament and lacks financial autonomy (art. 2). The Committee recommends that the State party should ensure that the current budget cuts to human rights institutions, in particular the Irish Human Rights Commission, do not result in the crippling of its activities and render its mandate ineffective. In this regard, the State party is encouraged to strengthen its efforts in ensuring that human rights institutions continue to effectively discharge their mandates. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party should strengthen the independence of IHRC by, inter alia, ensuring its direct accountability to Parliament and financial autonomy in line with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles). Rendition flights (9) The Committee is concerned at the various reports of the State party’s alleged cooperation in a rendition programme, where rendition flights use the State party’s airports and airspace. The Committee is also concerned at the inadequate response by the State party with regard to investigating these allegations (art. 3). 92 GE.11-45568