CRC/C/15/Add.118 page 4 D.2. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12 of the Convention) Principle of non-discrimination: article 2 16. The Committee is concerned that under the current arrangements with regard to the “three child policy”, children from families with more than three children are at a disadvantage with regard to access to social service, financial and other assistance. 17. In the light of article 2 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party find alternative means to implement the three child policy, other than excluding the fourth child from social service benefits, and ensure that all children have equal access to such assistance without discrimination. Principle of the best interests of the child: article 3 18. The Committee welcomes the information provided in the State party’s answers to the list of issues concerning implementation of the best interests principle and encourages the State party to continue to integrate the principle into all legislative and administrative practices, and to review its decision-making and implementation procedures so as to ensure that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration. The right to have views heard and given due weight: article 12 19. Recognizing the provisions in domestic legislation protecting the child’s rights to have views heard, the Committee remains concerned that implementation of this right is not adequately reflected in administrative policy and practice, including in the activities of the Centres for Social Work. 20. In the light of article 12 of the Convention and recognizing the progress made by the State party in respecting the right of children to have their views heard through the children’s parliament and in schools, the Committee recommends that the State party continue to take all appropriate measures to ensure that children are provided with appropriate opportunities to express their views and that these are given due weight, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. D.3. Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7, 8. 13-17 and 37 (a)) The right to birth registration: article 7 21. The Committee is concerned that, in spite of relevant legislation and an increasing number of births in hospitals, there are still children in the State party who are not registered at birth and is further concerned at the fact that a large proportion of unregistered births are of Roma children. The Committee recalls that official birth registration is a fundamental first step towards securing the rights of a child to a name and nationality, whether in the State of birth or in another State, and to gaining access to social assistance, health, education and other services.