CRC/C/15/Add.204 page 4 Cooperation with civil society 16. The Committee notes with appreciation the national commitment to children’s rights and the cooperation existing between the Government and national civil society organizations in this regard. At the same time, it notes with concern that the State party has strictly limited its cooperation with international civil society since 1997. 17. The Committee emphasizes the important role civil society plays as a partner in implementing the provisions of the Convention, and recommends that the State party promote closer cooperation with NGOs and consider involving more systematically international NGOs, especially rights-based ones, and other sectors of civil society working with and for children throughout all stages of the implementation of the Convention. 2. Definition of the child 18. The Committee notes with appreciation that both the Transitional Civil Code of Eritrea and the draft Civil Code define children as all persons under the age of 18, and that the Constitution states that men and women of full legal age shall have the right, upon their consent, to marry and found a family freely. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned that customary law does not have the same minimum age of marriage, and in practice many children are married between the ages of 13 and 15. 19. The Committee recommends that the State party develop sensitization programmes involving community, traditional and religious leaders as well as society at large, including children themselves, to enforce legislation and curb the practice of early marriage. 3. General principles Discrimination 20. The Committee is concerned that, as noted by the State party, societal discrimination persists against vulnerable groups of children, including girls, children with disabilities, AIDS orphans and children born out of wedlock. 21. The Committee recommends that the State party increase its efforts to ensure implementation of existing laws guaranteeing the principle of non-discrimination and full compliance with article 2 of the Convention, and adopt a proactive and comprehensive strategy to eliminate discrimination on any grounds and against all vulnerable groups. 22. The Committee requests that specific information be included in the next periodic report on the measures and programmes relevant to the Convention on the Rights of the Child undertaken by the State party to follow up on the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and taking account of general comment No. 1 on article 29 (1) of the Convention (aims of education).