CRC/C/15/Add.142 page 5 Non-discrimination 23. The Committee is concerned that the principle of non-discrimination is not fully implemented for non-citizen children, children belonging to minorities, including Roma children, poor or dysfunctional families, children with disabilities and children living in rural areas, especially with regard to their access to adequate health and educational facilities. In this context, it notes with interest the State programme for the improvement of the condition of children in the country for 1999. It further takes note with concern of the requirement to record ethnic origin in passports. 24. The Committee recommends that the State party collect disaggregated data to enable monitoring of discrimination against all children, in particular those belonging to the above-mentioned vulnerable groups, with a view to developing measures to put an end to any form of discrimination. It further reiterates the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to reconsider the requirement to record ethnic origin in passports (A/54/18, para. 407). 3. Civil rights and freedoms Right to nationality 25. The Committee is deeply concerned that, although all children born in Latvia after 1991 are automatically entitled to citizenship according to the amendment of 1998 of the Citizenship Law, there is still a large number of children who are without Latvian nationality. Further it expresses its concern at the slow pace in general of the process of naturalization of non-citizens in Latvia. 26. In light of article 7 of the Convention, the Committee concurs with the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to streamline the process of naturalization for all those who apply for citizenship (A/54/18, para. 404) and, in particular, it encourages the State party to provide more information and support to the parents of non-citizen children to enable them to apply for citizenship on behalf of their children. Corporal punishment 27. While noting that the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child of 1998 explicitly prohibits corporal punishment, the Committee expresses its concern at the still widespread use of corporal punishment, in particular within the family and in school and other institutions. 28. In light of articles 19 and 28 (2) of the Convention, the Committee encourages the State party to develop measures to raise awareness on the harmful effects of corporal punishment and to promote alternative forms of discipline in families, to be administered in a manner consistent with the child’s dignity and in conformity with the Convention. It also recommends the effective enforcement of the ban on corporal punishment in school and other institutions.