CRC/C/NGA/CO/3-4 and reports that these children are tortured, abused, abandoned and even killed as a result of such stigma and persecution. The Committee is particularly concerned at the reported roles of certain churches and the film industry in promoting the belief in child witchcraft and that already vulnerable children, including children from poor families and children with disabilities, are at greater risk of witchcraft stigmatization. In this respect, the Committee expresses utmost concern at reports of arbitrary killings of children during the course of activities designed to extract a confession of witchcraft or resulting from exorcism ceremonies. 68. The Committee urges the State party to strengthen efforts to combat the belief in and accusation of children of witchcraft. Specifically, the Committee urges the State party: (a) To criminalize making accusations against children of witchcraft and related abuse at national and state level and ensure that authors of crimes on the basis of witchcraft are prosecuted; (b) To ensure training to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors on existing relevant penal provisions criminalizing such acts; (c) To undertake appropriate sensitization and awareness-raising programs, including in cooperation with civil society organizations and with the media, to address the belief in child witchcraft, for the general public as well as for religious leaders; (d) To regulate those religious institutions found to engage in such practices and request them to adopt child protection policies; (e) To undertake a comprehensive research study on the causes and effects of the phenomenon. HIV/AIDS 69. The Committee recognizes the efforts undertaken by the State party in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including the Adolescent Health, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support Project and the exclusive breastfeeding programme for HIV/AIDS infected mothers. The Committee notes the expansion of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programmes and their integration into other health care interventions. The Committee regrets however that education and awareness programmes are insufficient to effectively prevent new HIV infections. It also expresses concern about the high number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the State party (1.8 million). 70. The Committee recommends that the State party, while drawing its attention to the Committee’s general comment no. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child: (a) Continue to develop and strengthen its policies and programmes to provide care and support for children infected or affect by HIV/AIDS, with particular children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, including by enhancing the capacity of extended families or the community to care for such children; (b) Strengthen awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention among adolescents, including through sex education in school and by the active use of the media and other public awareness campaigns. 17