CRC/C/15/Add.140 page 6 28. The Committee recommends that the State party continue and strengthen its efforts to provide families and children in need with adequate professional and other support and to reunite children placed in institutions with their families. With respect to alternative care, the State party is encouraged to strengthen the foster care system and to promote placement of children with foster families and family-type foster homes. Attention needs to be given to adequate periodic review of placement, in accordance with article 25 of the Convention, and follow-up of children who leave care. The Committee encourages the State party to prepare and implement a comprehensive national plan of action to address the issue of children deprived of a family environment and to include information on its implementation in its second report. Adoption 29. Noting that the State party has signed and is in the process of acceding to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 1993, the Committee is concerned at the absence of clear legislative measures in this area. 30. The Committee encourages the State party to expedite its accession to and implementation of this Convention. Violence/abuse/neglect/maltreatment 31. The Committee welcomes the establishment of special units in the Police Corps to deal with cases of neglect of children and domestic violence. The introduction in January 1999 of a special children’s hotline to receive and address complaints in this area is a welcome development. The Committee is concerned that violence against women is a problem in Slovakia, and that this has harmful consequences on children. 32. In light of articles 19 and 39 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all forms of physical and mental violence, including corporal punishment and sexual abuse of children in the family, schools and care institutions, are prohibited. Attention should be given to ensuring that the abused child is not victimized in legal proceedings; strengthening programmes for the rehabilitation and reintegration of abused children; and addressing sociocultural barriers that inhibit victims from seeking assistance. The Committee recommends that the State party continue to undertake public education campaigns about the negative consequences of ill-treatment of children, including within the family. The Committee encourages the State party to continue to promote the use of the hotline and other mechanisms to receive complaints throughout the country; to use the disaggregated data collected as a basis for designing preventive and other measures; and to evaluate progress in this area. 5. Basic health and welfare Children with disabilities 33. The Committee welcomes the comprehensive scheme of services and cash benefits available to families of children with disabilities as well as to non-governmental organizations