CRC/C/KIR/CO/1 page 7 Sexual Offences Unit in the Kiribati Police Service, it is concerned at the lack of comprehensive measures to address this serious phenomenon. 37. The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to prevent and address violence against children and child abuse, including by: (a) Establishing an effective mechanism to receive, monitor and investigate reports of child abuse and neglect; (b) Developing and implementing preventive measures, including awarenessraising campaigns involving children and traditional leaders, to combat all forms of violence against children; (c) Ensuring that appropriate data on child abuse and neglect are gathered and disaggregated by age and sex; and (d) Providing victims with adequate protection, as well as psychological support, recovery and social reintegration assistance and ensuring that all perpetrators of sexual and other forms of child abuse are brought to justice. 38. In the context of the Secretary-General’s in-depth study on the question of violence against children and the related questionnaire sent to Governments, the Committee acknowledges with appreciation the participation of the State party in the Regional Consultation for East Asia and the Pacific held in Thailand from 14 to 16 June 2005 and in the Pacific Consultation on Addressing Violence against Children held in Fiji from 26 to 28 September 2005. The Committee recommends that the State party use the outcome of these regional consultations as a tool for taking action, in partnership with civil society, to ensure that every child is protected from all forms of physical or mental violence, and to gain momentum for concrete and, where appropriate, timebound actions to prevent and respond to such violence and abuse. 39. In addition, the Committee would like to draw the States party’s attention to the report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children (A/61/299) and to encourage the State party to take all appropriate measures to implement the overarching recommendations and setting-specific recommendations contained in this report. 5. Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5, 18 (1-2), 9-11, 19-21, 25, 27 (4) and 39) Children deprived of their family environment 40. The Committee notes that collective living arrangements in Kiribati offer solutions for the care of children by the extended family. However, the Committee is concerned that the best interests of the child are not a priority in decision-making processes. 41. The Committee recommends that the State party systematically apply criteria based on the best interests of the child and develop informal family-based alternative care solutions. The State party is encouraged to seek technical assistance in this regard from, among others, UNICEF.