CRC/C/ROM/CO/4
page 17
problems, as well as programmes to support families with children at risk. The Committee
further recommends that additional resources and improved capacities be employed to
meet the needs of children with mental health problems throughout the country, with
particular attention to those at greater risk, including children belonging to minority
groups, children deprived of parental care, those living in poverty and those in conflict
with the law.
Adolescent health
68.
While noting the efforts undertaken by the State party, the Committee remains concerned
over media reports of several cases of suicide, particularly among children left behind by
migrating parents, although statistics on such cases are not systematically collected. Furthermore,
despite the robust framework to tackle drug use, the Committee is concerned at the use by
adolescents of harmful substances, especially tobacco, but also at the increase in drug abuse in
general and among younger children in particular. The Committee also notes the high number of
reported teenage pregnancies and teenage abortions in Romania. The Committee is deeply
concerned that a high number of adolescents engage in risk behaviour, particularly those aged
13-17, and at the number of children who go missing.
69.
The Committee recommends that the State party, taking into account the general
comment No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and development:
(a)
Undertake a comprehensive and multidisciplinary study to assess the scope
of adolescent health problems, including psychological development, disaggregated by sex
and age;
(b)
Ensure that information is available to all adolescents on healthy and lowrisk sex behaviour, in particular by making available sex and health education in schools;
(c)
Strengthen training of general practitioners, nurses, social workers and
other primary-care specialists in the field of mental health and emotional well-being of
adolescents;
(d)
Fully respect the rights of children and adolescents to privacy and nondiscrimination in offering HIV-related information, voluntary counselling and testing,
confidential sex and reproductive health services, and free or low-cost contraceptive
methods and services, in a gender sensitive way;
(e)
Identify and pay particular attention to groups at risk, inter alia, school
dropouts, separated children, children from low-income families, children in the child
protection system, children using harmful substances, street children and children victims
or perpetrators of crimes.
Drug, tobacco, alcohol and other substance use
70.
The Committee is concerned at the high incidence of drug, tobacco, alcohol, and other
toxic substances use among children, as well as parents who in this way endanger the well-being
of their children.
71.
The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to
address the incidence of drug, alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use among children,