E/C.12/CYP/CO/5 page 6 of international cooperation, to ascertain the full extent of homelessness and inadequate housing within their jurisdiction. 22. The Committee expresses concerns about the lengthy detention of irregular migrants and rejected asylum-seekers in inadequate conditions. (art.11} The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that asylum-seekers be detained only when it is absolutely necessary and that the time which rejected asylum- seekers and irregular migrants spend in detention is limited to a strict minimum. The Committee also urges the State party to ensure that the conditions of migrants’ detention meet United Nations standards. 23. The Committee, recalling its previous concluding observations (E/C.12/1/Add.28 para. 16) expresses concern about the lack of adequate medical facilities for persons suffering from mental disabilities and illnesses who are often transferred to Homes for Aged or to institutions which are unable to meet their special requirements. (art.12) The Committee urges the State party to adopt the necessary measures legislative or otherwise to address the lack of medical institutions for persons suffering from mental disabilities and illnesses as a matter of priority. The Committee also recommends that regular inspections be conducted in order to prevent mistreatment of mentally ill patients. 24. The Committee is concerned about the still limited opportunities for Cypriot Turkish speaking children to receive instruction in their native language.(art.13) The Committee urges the State party to take all appropriate measures to increase opportunities for Turkish Cypriot children to receive teaching in their mother tongue. The Committee also encourages the State party to strengthen its efforts to ensure that education in school meets the needs of a diverse society and revise school curricula to include a better understanding of the contribution of Cypriot’s communities and minorities to the State party’s history. 25. The Committee expresses deep concern about the circular issued by the 2004 Ministry of Education which request all schools to report to immigration authorities the contact details of the parents of foreign children who enrol for school. The Committee considers that the 2004 circular gives rise to direct or indirect discrimination against migrant children and hinder their access to education. (art.13) The Committee recalling its general comment No. 13 (1999) on the right to education according to which education must be accessible to all especially the most marginalized and disadvantaged groups, in law and in fact, without discrimination on any of the prohibited ground, calls upon the State party to consider withdrawing this circular. 26. The Committee recommends that the State party consider ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

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