CRC/C/THA/CO/3-4 B. Definition of the child (art. 1 of the Convention) 31. While welcoming that the legal minimum age of marriage is 17 years for both boys and girls, the Committee expresses concern that this age limit can be lowered to 13 years in cases where children are sexually abused and may consequently marry the perpetrators, who in turn avoid any criminal prosecution for the crime. 32. The Committee recommends that the State party consider raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 years and maintain it under all circumstances, in particular in cases where children have been sexually abused. It recommends that the State party prosecute and punish perpetrators of sexual abuse against children without any exceptions. C. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12 of the Convention) Non-discrimination 33. The Committee notes the measures that are being taken to eliminate to some extent the disparities in access to education and health as well as special measures taken concerning children in the disadvantaged North-East and South of the country. Nevertheless, the Committee expresses concern that the efforts are insufficient to eradicate both direct and indirect discrimination against children, particularly with respect to the girl child, children with disabilities, children of indigenous, religious or ethnic minority communities, children of refugees and asylum-seekers, children of migrant workers, children in street situations, children living in rural areas, and children living in poverty. The Committee remains deeply concerned about regional disparities, especially in the North-East and South, regarding access to social, health and educational services for children. 34. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendations (CRC/C/THA/CO/2, paras 25-26) and urges the State party to take more effective measures to: (a) Ensure that all children within its jurisdiction enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Convention on the basis of non-discrimination by effectively implementing existing laws which guarantee that principle; (b) Prioritize and allocate adequate resources for social services and accelerate the provision of equal opportunities to health and education and other services for the most vulnerable groups of children as mentioned in paragraph 33; (c) Carry out comprehensive public education campaigns to prevent and combat all forms of discrimination; (d) Collect data that is appropriately disaggregated to enable effective monitoring of de facto discrimination and provide a basis for corrective action. Best interests of the child 35. While noting the State party’s information that various laws affecting the rights of children incorporate the principle of the best interests of the child, the Committee is nevertheless concerned that this principle is not fully applied in judicial and administrative proceedings and decisions and in decisions regarding placement and management of alternative care. 36. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures to ensure that the principle of the best interests of the child, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention, is fully applied in all legal provisions, as well as in 7