CRC/C/BGD/CO/4
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the inadequate facilities and counselling services for mental health and reproductive health for
adolescents.
64.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Undertake a comprehensive study in order to understand the nature and
extent of adolescent health problems, with the full participation of adolescents, and use this
as a basis for the formulation of adolescent health policies and programmes, with
particular attention to female adolescents;
(b) Develop a separate comprehensive policy on the critical issues affecting the
rights of adolescents, including mental health and reproductive health services;
(c) Pay special attention to the psycho-social needs of adolescents, especially girls,
and provide appropriate, child-friendly, and confidential counselling services in schools
and clinics and disseminate information about their existence and availability;
(d) Provide separate and appropriate sanitary facilities for adolescent girls and
boys;
(e) Take into account the Committee’s general comment No 4 (2003) on
adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention in implementing
policies and programmes on adolescent health.
Drug abuse
65.
The Committee is concerned over information indicating that drug abuse is growing,
including the abuse of non-conventional drugs such as glue.
66.
The Committee recommends that the State party implement measures to prevent
and end drug use among children and to provide rehabilitative assistance, where needed, to
children who have used drugs.
Harmful traditional practices
67.
The Committee is concerned over the persistence of harmful traditional practices,
including dowry, early and forced marriages, particularly involving girls, and the negative
impact on their health, development and full enjoyment of their rights. Girls also experience
gender-based violence as a result of these practices.
68.
The Committee recommends that the State party take urgent legislative measures to
prohibit early and forced marriages and other traditional practices harmful to the health
and development of boys as well as girls. The Committee urges the State party to introduce
gender-sensitive awareness-raising programmes, with the involvement of community
leaders, for practitioners, families and the general public to prevent and end harmful
practices, especially in rural areas. The Committee also recommends that the State party
adopt effective measures to empower girls in the family, school and community settings.