CRC/C/ROM/CO/4 page 15 (c) Many children are identified as mentally disabled and referred to schools for children with special needs, while they are often delayed developmentally or because of their social, emotional, or cognitive deprivation and are not disabled; (d) Children with disabilities are increasingly at risk of being abandoned and placed in residential care; (e) Institutions are understaffed and, in general, personnel lack special training; (f) Social stigmatization of children with disabilities persists and as a result some children are kept “hidden” in the home by their parents, which prevents them from receiving necessary services, including mainstream education, and from participating in social life; (g) Many children with disabilities, especially those who are most vulnerable to neglect and abandonment due to their reduced social visibility are not certified as disabled by the local authorities; (h) There are reports alleging violations against children with mental disabilities in institutions, including unsatisfactory conditions, the abusive application of methods limiting personal freedoms, and the lack of preparation for re-integration into the society; (i) Two national agencies share responsibility for monitoring information on children with disabilities, while operating with different definitions of disability. 61. In the light of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (General Assembly resolution 48/96), the Committee’s general comment No. 9 (2006) on the rights of children with disabilities, and with particular reference to article 23 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Develop a comprehensive and specific national policy on disability, which promotes the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all children with disabilities and their full participation in society; (b) Take all necessary measures to ensure that legislation providing protection for persons with disabilities, as well as programmes and services for children with disabilities, are effectively implemented; (c) Develop early identification and intervention programmes; (d) Provide training for professional staff working with children with disabilities, such as medical, paramedical and related personnel, teachers and social workers; (e) Undertake awareness-raising campaigns on the rights and special needs of children with disabilities, encourage their inclusion in society and prevent discrimination and institutionalization; (f) Ensure the careful and professional assessment of children with mental disabilities in order to avoid false categorization; (g) Continue and complete its plans for ratifying the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and examine the possibility of ratifying its Optional Protocol; (h) Harmonize the definition of disability and consider unifying information gathering and monitoring responsibilities under one agency.