CRC/C/CYP/CO/3-4 (a) The Youth Board has not been allocated adequate funding and resources to effectively fulfil its function, with its primary funding arising from ad hoc contributions from civil society; (b) The views of children are not always taken into account, having regard to age and maturity, in judicial proceedings; (c) Respect for the views of children in the general context of Cypriot society is not well understood and respected. 28. In the light of article 12 of the Convention and the Committee’s general comment No. 12 (2009) on the right of the child to be heard, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Increase the funding and resources allocated to its Youth Board to ensure that its ability to effectively fulfil its mandate as a platform for communicating the views of the child on Government policy and support the implementation of youthrelated Government programmes with full respect for the views of the child on them; (b) Take measures, including enacting legislation, to ensure that the views of the child, with due regard to age and maturity, are taken into account in all decisions affecting her/him, including in judicial proceedings; (c) Undertake awareness-raising campaigns to facilitate families and adults’ understanding and respect of the right of children to express their views and actively create opportunities for children’s participation in matters that concern them. C. Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7, 8, 13-17, 19 and 37 (a) of the Convention) Corporal punishment 29. The Committee is concerned at the widespread social acceptance of corporal punishment in the State party. Furthermore, while noting that the State party’s Violence in the Family (Prevention and Protection of Victims) Law of 2000 prohibits corporal punishment, the Committee is concerned that article 54 of the State party’s Children’s Law (1956) allowing for “the right of any parent, teacher or other person having the lawful control or charge of the child to administer punishment to him” is still in force. 30. The Committee recommends that the State party continue conducting awareness-raising and public education campaigns promoting alternative forms of discipline which are non-violent, and participatory forms of child-rearing and education. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party explicitly repeal article 54 of its Children’s Law (1956) to ensure all of its legislation explicitly prohibits all forms of corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home. D. Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5, 18 (paras. 1–2), 9-11, 19–21, 25, 27 (para. 4) and 39 of the Convention) Children deprived of a family environment 31. The Committee notes as positive that the State party has been able to place children who are deprived of a family environment and aged from 0 to 5 years in foster care instead of institutional care. However, the Committee is concerned that children above the age of 5 years, particularly those with behavioural difficulties, tended to be placed in institutional 6