CRC/C/ECU/CO/4 like to draw the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 12 (2009) on the right of the child to be heard. 42. While noting the Constitutional measure to allow voluntary voting in public elections for children between 16 and 18 years of age, the Committee encourages the State party to ensure that it is supported by civic and human rights education as a way to ensure early awareness in children that rights are to be exercised as part of citizenship, with autonomy and responsibility. It recommends that the State party evaluate results in an independent manner. 4. Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7; 8; 13-17; and 37 (a) of the Convention) Birth registration 43. While taking note of the efforts made by the State party to promote the birth registration of children, such as the National Plan for Birth Registration and mobile registration units, the Committee is concerned that many children are still not registered and lack birth certificates. It is particularly concerned at reports that children born in the State party from parents who are immigrants or asylum-seekers are denied the right to birth registration. 44. In the light of article 7 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party guarantee birth registration for all children, including those that are or belong to migrant or asylum-seeking families, and that it is free of charge. Corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment 45. While welcoming the prohibition of all forms of violence in the new Constitution, the Committee is concerned that corporal punishment is still not explicitly prohibited in the home and remains a culturally accepted form of discipline in the family and other settings, including schools and other places of care, and that there is no explicit prohibition of corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure against children deprived of liberty. 46. The Committee recommends that the State party introduce and enforce legislation prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings, including in the family, schools and all places of deprivation of liberty. In this respect, it should take into account the Committee’s general comment No. 8 (2007) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment. Follow-up to the United Nations study on violence against children 47. With reference to the United Nations study on violence against children (A/61/299), the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take all necessary measures for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children while taking into account the outcome and recommendations of the regional consultation for Latin America held in Buenos Aires between 30 May and 1 June 2005. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party pay particular attention to the following recommendations: • Prohibit by law all violence against children, including corporal punishment in all settings; • Prioritize prevention and promote non-violent values and awareness-raising; 9