CRC/C/ARM/CO/3-4
HIV/AIDS
39.
The Committee notes as positive the introduction of the Prevention of Mother to
Child HIV Transmission services. However, it remains concerned that awareness of
HIV/AIDS is extremely low, especially among children in rural areas.
40.
In light of its general comment No. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the
child, the Committee recommends that the State party continue its Prevention of
Mother to Child HIV Transmission services and undertake additional awarenessraising campaigns on HIV/AIDS among adolescent children, especially in rural areas.
In undertaking the above, the Committee recommends that the State party seek
technical assistance from, inter alia, the United Nations Joint Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and UNICEF.
Breastfeeding
41.
The Committee is concerned that the implementation of baby-friendly hospital
initiatives and the reassessment process have been discontinued since 2008. It is also
concerned at the aggressive marketing practices of infant food companies and distributors
and the weak enforcement of laws that regulate infant food marketing.
42.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Undertake measures to resume its baby-friendly hospital initiatives and
ensure its maternity hospitals meet the required standards and are certified as babyfriendly under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI);
(b)
Ensure regular monitoring of existing international marketing
regulations relating to breast-milk substitutes and take necessary actions against those
who violate these regulations and accelerate the adoption of the draft Law on
Breastfeeding;
(c)
Promote proper infant and young child feeding practices through a
health-care system in institutions and communities.
Standard of living
43.
The Committee regrets that the child poverty rate has increased due to the economic
crisis, with children with disabilities being among the hardest hit. The Committee
welcomes the existing benefit packages for families with children, but is concerned that
only 54.3 per cent of extremely poor families and 4.1 per cent of poor families benefit on a
regular basis, due to the inadequate family benefit formula and lack of awareness of the
existing government support.
44.
The Committee urges the State party to continue and strengthen its efforts to
combat poverty and to ensure that benefit packages cover all families in vulnerable
situations by facilitating their access to State support and raising awareness of the
existing benefits, as well as to guarantee the right of all children to an adequate
standard of living.
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