CRC/C/15/Add.170
page 11
(b)
Amend the procedures for the disbursement of family allowances to ensure
that this financial support is provided to the person(s) currently caring for the children
intended to benefit from the allowances;
(c)
Consider increasing financial support to families living in poverty to the
maximum extent of available resources.
Abuse and neglect
50.
While acknowledging the many activities of the Child Health Institute in the field of
child abuse and neglect and the new bill to establish the “legal bystander” for the child victim,
the Committee remains concerned:
(a)
At the absence of national data on the incidence of child abuse and neglect;
(b)
At indications that physical, psychological, and sexual abuse are prevalent within
the family and in the context of institutional care;
(c)
That social, medical and other service resources through which the State party can
respond to abuse and neglect are primarily limited to Athens and that even these are insufficient.
51.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Improve its data collection with regard to the abuse and neglect of children,
including sexual abuse within the family;
(b)
Develop and implement a national programme for the prevention and
reduction of the incidence of child abuse and neglect of children within the family and
within institutions, inter alia by conducting awareness raising campaigns and providing
adequate support to families at risk;
(c)
Develop and implement an effective system for reporting and referral of
cases of child abuse and neglect and appropriate measures for the protection of child
victims and the provision of rehabilitative assistance and the prosecution and treatment of
alleged perpetrators of abuse and neglect;
(d)
Strengthen the capacity of social services across the country to identify and
treat instances of abuse or neglect of children, including for physical and psychological
recovery and social reintegration of the victims of rape, abuse, neglect, ill-treatment,
violence or sexual exploitation, in accordance with article 39 of the Convention; take
measures to prevent the criminalization and stigmatization of victims; strengthen the use of
child-sensitive methods of investigation and presentation of court evidence and the
availability of expert multidisciplinary child assistance teams, including psychosocial
counsellors; and ensure that domestic legislation provides adequate protection for all
children, both girls and boys, from sexual and other forms of abuse;