CRC/C/ECU/CO/4 adapting coverage by written media, and extending it to radio, television and digital press. Cooperation with civil society 28. The Committee notes with satisfaction the involvement of civil society, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in the preparation of the State party’s report. While it notes with interest the Constitution’s idea of a fifth power of the State on transparency and social control based on the people’s mandate, the Committee remains concerned that due account may not be taken of civil society participation and the contribution children and adolescents can make to put in place this State function. 29. The Committee encourages the State party to continue to systematically involve communities and civil society, as well as children and adolescents in all aspects of the elaboration of laws and regulations, policies, plans and budgets, especially at local level, and that relate to them directly or indirectly. Child rights and the business sector 30. The Committee notes with concern the recent lack of public agreement in the country on the social and environmental standards to be placed on projects for the oil and mineral sector. The Committee is concerned over the lack of clear guidelines and regulations to enable the protection and respect by business corporations, both national and international, of children’s rights. 31. The Committee urges the State party to develop clear guidelines for the business sector to protect and respect children’s rights as enshrined in the Convention, the Code on Children and Adolescents and the Constitution. The Committee recalls the 2008 Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD/C/ECU/CO/19, para. 16) recommendation in this respect to ensure that oil companies conduct proper environmental and social assessments of impact in consultation with local communities, including indigenous communities. 2. Definition of the child (art. 1 of the Convention) 32. The Committee notes the formal distinction made in the State party between a child (under 12 years) and an adolescent (between the ages of 12 and 18 years). While noting the proposed changes to the Civil Code, the Committee is deeply concerned at the continuation of the legal minimum age for contracting marriage for girls at 12 years and for boys at 14 years. 33. The Committee recommends that the State party set the minimum age for marriage for girls and for boys at 18 years of age. 3. General principles (arts. 2; 3; 6; and 12 of the Convention) Non-discrimination 34. The Committee welcomes the recognition in the new Constitution of the plurinational and intercultural character of the State party. It however shares the concern of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that a high proportion of persons belonging to the indigenous peoples and Afro-Ecuadorian communities continue to suffer in practice from racism and racial discrimination (CERD/C/ECU/CO/19, para. 8), including children. It is further concerned at the clear manifestations of such discrimination, such as the under-5 mortality rate of indigenous children, which is 50 per cent higher than 7