CRC/C/15/Add.93 page 4 17. With regard to the implementation of article 1 and related articles of the Convention regarding the definition of the child, the Committee is concerned about the disparities existing in domestic legislation. The Committee is also concerned at the use of the biological criterion of puberty to set different ages of maturity for boys and girls. This practice is contrary to the principles and provisions of the Convention and constitutes a form of gender-based discrimination which affects the enjoyment of all rights. The Committee recommends that the State party review its domestic legislation to ensure full conformity with the principles and provisions of the Convention. 18. While acknowledging the measures taken by the State party, the Committee is still concerned at the predominance of discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin, gender, social status and disabilities. The Committee expresses its concern at the increasing disparities between rural and urban areas, as well as at the growing number of the population living in urban poor and marginalized areas. In the light of the general principle of non-discrimination (art. 2 of the Convention), the Committee recommends that the State party continue taking all available measures to reduce economic and social disparities, including those between rural and urban areas. Measures to prevent discrimination against the most disadvantaged groups of children, including children belonging to indigenous communities, Afro-Ecuadorian children, girl children, children with disabilities, children born out of wedlock, children in institutional care, and children living and/or working on the streets should be reinforced. 19. The Committee is concerned that the general principles of the best interests of the child (art. 3) and respect for the views of the child (art. 12) are not fully applied and duly integrated into the policies and programmes of the State party. The Committee recommends that further efforts be made to ensure that domestic laws take fully into account the principles of the best interests of the child and respect for the views of the child, and his or her right to participate in the family, at school, in other institutions and in society in general. These principles should also be reflected in all policies, administrative decisions and programmes relating to children. 20. While the Committee takes note of the measures taken by the State party in the area of birth registration, it remains concerned at the lack of awareness and understanding on registration procedures, especially in rural areas. In the light of article 7 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party continue with its efforts to ensure the registration of all children immediately after birth. Furthermore, the Committee encourages the State party to ensure, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and with the support of intergovernmental organizations, that birth registration procedures are widely known and understood by the population at large. 21. The Committee is deeply concerned at the information provided in the State party's report that “child abuse is a culturally accepted and justified practice”. In this regard, it expresses its concern at the insufficient awareness regarding the harmful consequences of ill-treatment and abuse, including sexual abuse, both within and outside the family. Concern is also