CRC/C/BTN/CO/2
page 10
that the State party ratify the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children
and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption in order to avoid the sale
of children through irregular adoptions.
Violence, abuse, neglect and maltreatment
48.
The Committee, while welcoming the measures undertaken to combat
domestic violence, including the establishment of the Women and Child Protection
Unit within the police, notes that cases of abuse and violence remain underreported
and that physical and psychological recovery measures for victims are lacking.
49.
The Committee urges the State party to;
(a)
Reinforce mechanisms for monitoring the number of cases and the
extent of violence, sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment or exploitation
considered by article 19, including within the family, in schools and
in institutional or other care;
(b)
Ensure that professionals working with children (including teachers,
social workers, medical professionals, members of the police and the
judiciary) receive training on their obligation to report and take
appropriate action in suspected cases of domestic violence affecting
children;
(c)
Strengthen support for victims of violence, abuse, neglect and
maltreatment in order to ensure their access to adequate services for
recovery, counselling and other forms of reintegration;
(d)
Establish a 24-hour three digit toll free child helpline service, in
order to be able to reach out to children throughout the country.
6. Basic Health and Welfare
(arts. 6, 18 (para. 3), 23, 24, 26, 27(paras. 1-3) of the Convention)
Children with disabilities
50.
The Committee notes measures the State party has undertaken to enhance
access to specialized services and education for children with disabilities. However,
the Committee regrets that there still are no accurate figures on the number of children
with disabilities in Bhutan and that the resources dedicated to guaranteeing the
implementation of the rights of children with disabilities are inadequate.
51.
The Committee recommends that the State party, while taking into
account the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities (General Assembly res. 48/96) and the Committee’s
general comment No. 9 (2006) on the rights of children with disabilities, take all
necessary measures to:
(a)
Adopt an inclusive education strategy and elaborate a plan of
action in order to increase the school attendance of children with