CEDAW/C/PHL/CO/7-8 community property, the exercise of parental authority and guardianship over a child; (b) The prohibition on divorce in the State party, except under the Code of Muslim Personal Laws, and the costly and lengthy procedures for legal separation and annulment, which may have the effect of compelling victims of sexual and gender-based violence, especially those without resources, to remain in violent relationships; (c) The contradictions between the provisions of the Magna Carta of Women and those of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws and customary laws applicable to Muslim and indigenous communities, which provide for unequal relations between husband and wife, including harmful practices such as polygamy and child and forced marriage, as well as unequal practices with respect to inheritance. 50. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Expedite the harmonization of the Family Code and other laws on marriage and family relations with the Convention and the Magna Carta of Women and ensure the equality of women and men, both in marriage and upon the dissolution of marriage, including by expediting the adoption of the long pending divorce bill and by taking into account the Committee’s general recommendations No. 21 (1994) on equality in marriage and family relations and No. 29 (2013) on the economic consequences of marriage, family relations and their dissolution; (b) Intensify its efforts to raise awareness about the Convention among Muslim communities, including women, men and traditional and religious leaders, in particular by disseminating information on good practices of other Muslim countries with regard to the application of sharia in line with the Convention; (c) Harmonize the Code of Muslim Personal Laws and indigenous and Muslim customary laws with the Convention and the Magna Carta of Women, in particular by explicitly discouraging polygamy with a view to prohibiting it and prohibiting child and forced marriage, through consultation with the communities concerned and local women’s rights organizations; (d) Eliminate the root causes of child and forced marriage, including poverty, conflicts and insecurity, as well as vulnerability to the impact of natural disasters; (e) Ensure the full participation of women in decision-making and legislative processes at the national, local and community levels, including in the codification and interpretation of religious norms or customs on marriage and family relations. Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 51. The Committee calls upon the State party to use the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in its efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention. 16-12874 15/16