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Social Work. Recognizing the existence of an appeals procedure under current
arrangements, the Committee nevertheless recommends that the State party establish a
mechanism providing for judicial review of situations requiring the placement of a child
with one parent.
D.5. Basic health and welfare
(arts. 6; 18, para. 3; 23; 24; 26; 27, paras. 1-3)
31.
Recognizing the State party’s efforts to provide financial and other assistance to ensure
the access of children to health care, the Committee is nevertheless concerned that not all
children have equal and adequate access to health care including, notably, children from regions
facing particular economic hardship. Further, the Committee is concerned that the State party’s
policy of requiring adolescents aged 15 to 18 to make financial contributions to their health care
costs may limit their access to health care, including sexual health education.
32.
The Committee urges the State party to continue its efforts to ensure that all
children, and from all regions, have equal access to health care services. The Committee
further recommends that the State party review policies requiring 15- to 18-year-olds to
share costs, and to ensure that these policies do not restrict the access of adolescents to full
health care.
Children with disabilities: article 23
33.
While aware of the State party’s efforts to integrate children with disabilities into formal
education and into regular recreation programmes, the Committee remains concerned that
children with disabilities remain excluded from many such activities. With regard to children
with disabilities requiring additional facilities, the Committee is concerned by the quality of
educational, health and other facilities available, inter alia, facilities providing access to schools.
34.
In the light of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons
with Disabilities (General Assembly resolution 48/96) and the Committee’s
recommendations adopted at its Day of General Discussion on the Rights of Children with
Disabilities (CRC/C/69), the Committee recommends that the State party make further
efforts to integrate children with disabilities into educational and recreational programmes
currently used by children without disabilities. With particular reference to article 23 of
the Convention, the Committee further recommends that the State party continue with its
programmes to improve the physical access of children with disabilities to public service
buildings, including schools, review the facilities and assistance available to children with
disabilities and in need of special services, and improve these services in accordance with
the provisions and spirit of the Convention.
35.
With reference to article 23, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the Committee further
encourages the State party to strengthen its efforts to benefit from international
cooperation, including from UNICEF, in favour of children with disabilities, with a view to
improving State policy and action.