CRC/C/BOL/CO/4
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35.
The Committee recommends that the State party continue to take all necessary
measures to ensure registration of all children, especially in rural areas, and that it take
steps to identify all children who have not been registered or obtained an identity
document. The Committee further recommends that the State party implement a specific
strategy for the indigenous communities based on respect for their cultures and taking into
account the Committee’s general comment No. 11 (2009) on indigenous children and their
rights under the Convention .
Access to appropriate information
36.
The Committee is concerned that the State party lacks systematic media-monitoring
mechanisms to protect children from being exposed to harmful information, such as violence and
pornography, transmitted through the media and Internet.
37.
The Committee recommends that the State party consider adopting specific
legislation and develop mechanisms and appropriate guidelines to protect children from
information and material injurious to their well-being.
Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
38.
While welcoming the prohibition of torture in the new Constitution, the Committee is
concerned about reports of torture, cruel and inhuman treatment by the police, including sexual
violence, of children in street situations, and at reports of adolescents being harassed due to their
physical appearance, ethnicity or poverty.
39.
The Committee recommends that the State party adopt appropriate measures to
combat torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and arbitrary detentions,
including systematic training programmes at the national and local level, addressed to all
professionals working with and for children on prevention of and protection against
torture and other forms of ill-treatment. The Committee further recommends that the
State party investigate the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of children, including
harassment of adolescents due to their appearance, ethnicity or poverty, and take all
necessary measures to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice and avoid impunity.
Corporal punishment
40.
While welcoming that the new Constitution of 2009 prohibits all violence against
children, both in the family and society, the Committee is concerned that corporal punishment
remains lawful in the home and in residential or institutional care settings, and that there is no
explicit prohibition of this form of “discipline” in all settings.
41.
The Committee recommends that the State party expressly prohibit corporal
punishment by law in all settings, taking into account the Committee’s general comment
No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other
cruel or degrading forms of punishment . The Committee further recommends that the
State party carry out public education campaigns, including through media, about the