CRC/C/THA/CO/3-4 (a) Prohibit explicitly by law corporal punishment of children in the home and alternative care settings, including for disciplinary purposes; (b) Introduce sustained public education and awareness-raising and social mobilization programmes involving children, families and communities on the harmful effects of corporal punishment with a view to changing attitudes and promoting alternative, positive and non-violent forms of child-rearing and discipline; (c) Prioritize the elimination of all forms of violence against children, and ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children (A/61/299); (d) Provide information concerning the implementation by the State party of the recommendations of the above-mentioned study in its next periodic report, particularly those highlighted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, in particular: (i) The development in each State of a national comprehensive strategy to prevent and address all forms of violence and ill-treatment against children, paying particular attention to gender; (ii) The introduction of an explicit national legal ban on all forms of violence against children in all settings; (iii) The consolidation of a national system of data collection, analysis and dissemination, and a research agenda on violence and ill-treatment against children. E. Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5, 18 (paras. 1-2), 9-11, 19-21, 25, 27 (para. 4) and 39 of the Convention) Family environment 49. The Committee notes with concern that the growing internal migration has weakened family ties and left many children in rural areas with grandparents, being the primary carers for such children without adequate support or services. 50. The Committee urges the State party to continue its efforts at legal reform with regard to parental responsibilities and develop measures for preventing family disintegration and strengthening of the family. The Committee recommends that the State party review existing support facilities for parents and caregivers and take appropriate measures to strengthen such facilities in accordance with articles 18 and 27 of the Convention. The Committee further recommends that the State party consider ratifying the relevant Hague Conventions, in particular, Convention No. 34 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children. Children deprived of family environment 51. The Committee notes with appreciation the State party’s information that it has allocated a budget to support 3000 foster families per year and is drafting a National Strategy on Temporary Family-bases Care. Nevertheless, it is concerned about the reported over-reliance on institutional care for children deprived of family environment (7000 children in 29 institutions) and the lack of monitoring and oversight of such institutions. It is further concerned at the lack of regulations governing institutions and the foster care system, including kinship care, as well as the lack of permanency planning for children once they enter alternative care settings. 10

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