CRC/C/15/Add.93
page 5
expressed at the insufficient 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 such children
and their limited access to justice are also matters of concern. In the light
of, inter alia, articles 19 and 39 of the Convention, the Committee recommends
that the State party take all appropriate steps, including setting up social
programmes and introducing 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 that law enforcement should be strengthened
with respect to such crimes and that adequate procedures and mechanisms to
deal with complaints of child abuse should be developed. 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 and international non-governmental organizations.
22.
While the Committee notes the State party's efforts to reduce the infant
mortality rate and the under-five mortality rate, it is still concerned about
the prevalence of malnutrition, high rates of maternal mortality and the
limited access to health services in remote rural areas. It suggests that the
State party allocate appropriate resources and consider seeking technical
assistance, when needed, to reinforce its efforts to make basic health care
accessible to all children. In particular, concerted efforts are required to
combat malnutrition and ensure the adoption and implementation of a national
nutritional policy for children. International cooperation for the
establishment of programmes such as the WHO/UNICEF “Integrated Management of
Childhood Illness” is recommended. In addition, the Committee recommends that
breastfeeding be promoted in all health facilities and among the public at
large.
23.
With regard to adolescent health, the Committee is particularly
concerned at the high and increasing rate of teenage pregnancy, the incidence
of suicides by girls and insufficient access by teenagers to reproductive
health education and counselling services, including outside of schools. The
Committee is also concerned at the increasing rate of substance abuse. It
suggests that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary study be undertaken on
adolescent health problems as a basis for promoting adolescent health policies
and strengthening reproductive health education and counselling services. The
Committee also recommends that further efforts be undertaken to develop
child-friendly counselling services, as well as care and rehabilitation
facilities for adolescents. Measures to prevent and combat substance abuse
among adolescents should be strengthened.
24.
The Committee expresses its concern at the high incidence of
environmental threats, including to the health of children, in particular in
oil exploitation areas of the Amazonia region. In the light of article 24 (c)
of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party take all
appropriate measures, including seeking international cooperation, to prevent
and combat the damaging effects of environmental degradation, including
pollution, on children.
25.
With regard to the implementation of article 27 of the Convention, the
Committee is concerned about the widespread poverty and deteriorating living
conditions affecting the majority of the population in the State party. It
recommends that the State party take comprehensive measures to establish