CRC/C/15/Add.137 page 8 subject to arbitrary decisions. Concern is also expressed at the prevalence of illegal informal adoption. The Committee is further concerned at the limited capacity properly to follow up cases of intercountry adoption, which constitute the majority of adoption cases. 44. The Committee recommends that the State party take further measures to revise its legislation and practices in the area of domestic and intercountry adoption, in accordance with the Convention and the requirements established by the Hague Convention of 1993 on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, to which Colombia is a party. Protection from abuse and neglect 45. With regard to its recommendations on the situation of domestic violence (see CRC/C/15/Add.30, para. 21), the Committee welcomes the adoption of special legislation criminalizing domestic violence, but it remains concerned that physical and sexual abuse - within and outside the family - still widely exist in society. Concern is also expressed at the insufficient allocation of resources, both financial and human, as well as at the lack of adequately trained personnel to prevent and combat such abuse. The insufficiency of rehabilitation measures and facilities for victims and their limited access to justice are also matters of concern. 46. In the light of, inter alia, articles 19 and 39 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party take effective measures, including reinforcing current multidisciplinary programmes and rehabilitation measures to prevent and combat child abuse and ill-treatment of children within the family, at school and in society at large. It suggests, inter alia, that law enforcement should be strengthened with respect to such crimes and that procedures and mechanisms to deal with complaints of child abuse should be reinforced in order to provide children with prompt access to justice and to avoid impunity for the offenders. Furthermore, educational programmes should be established to combat traditional attitudes within society regarding this issue. The Committee encourages the State party to consider seeking international cooperation to this effect from, inter alia, UNICEF. 5. Basic health and welfare 47. While acknowledging the measures taken to improve the health status of children, in particular initiatives relating to the reduction of infant mortality, the Committee remains concerned about the persistence of regional disparities in access to health care and of high rates of malnutrition for children under five years of age and those of school age, especially in rural and remote areas and, in particular, among children belonging to indigenous groups. 48. The Committee is also concerned about the high maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy rates, as well as about insufficient access by teenagers to reproductive health education and counselling services. In this connection, concern is expressed that the practice of abortion is considered the leading cause of maternal mortality (see the concern expressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): A/54/38, para. 393). The increasing rates of substance abuse and of HIV/AIDS among children and adolescents and the constant discrimination they are exposed to are also matters of concern.

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