CRC/C/ECU/CO/4 budgeting and elaboration of indicators for tracking and monitoring allocations to children, providing visibility to the investment and enabling its evaluation; (d) Ensure that the expansion of allocations to disadvantaged groups in order to address disparities, through for example the Bono de Desarrollo Humano, is based on the appropriate disaggregation of budget data by geographical and administrative location and other relevant categories, including gender, age and ethnic origin; (e) Define strategic budgetary lines for those situations that may require affirmative social measures (such as birth registration, chronic malnutrition, violence against children, etc.) (f) Ensure proper accountability by local authorities in an open and transparent way that enables participation by communities and children and concerted allocation of resources; (g) Seek technical assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other international organizations, as appropriate. Data collection 23. While acknowledging recent efforts to improve data collection, planning and budgeting, the Committee is concerned at the inadequate data on specific groups of children, particularly indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian children, children with disabilities, children out of school, working children and other children in need of special protection. 24. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its system of collecting disaggregated data by age group, gender, ethnicity, geographical and/or administrative location, etc., covering all areas of the Convention as a basis to assess progress achieved in the realization of children’s rights and help design policies to implement the Convention. The Committee recommends that the State party seek technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF, for this purpose. Dissemination, training and awareness-raising 25. While welcoming the positive experiences in Ecuador, particularly those regarding children on dissemination and awareness-raising, such as the Communication Agency of Children and Adolescents (ACNNA), the Committee remains concerned at the low level of awareness of the Convention among professionals working with and for children, the media and the general public. The Committee welcomes the two-year research done by ACNNA in monitoring the publications of 10 national and local newspapers for their quantitative and qualitative coverage of children’s issues, which clearly shows the poor interest and inadequate understanding of the press in these issues. 26. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to ensure that the provisions of the Convention are widely known and understood by adults and children. It also recommends the reinforcement of adequate and systematic training of all professional groups working for and with children, in particular law enforcements officials, teachers (including teachers in indigenous communities and rural and remote areas), health workers, social workers and personnel working in all forms of alternative care. 27. The Committee recommends that the media, both private and public, respect and disseminate the rights of the child, taking into account cultural diversity and gender, among others, and include in its programmes the expressions and points of view of children. In particular, the Committee recommends that the findings of ACNNA are examined by the State and the media, with a view to learning and 6

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