CRC/C/15/Add.259 page 20 78. The Committee also recommends that the State party pay particular attention to the implementation of guidelines for Philippine Armed Forces on the treatment of children in armed conflict and ensure that children who are arrested are released from military custody within the prescribed time limits and that children are provided with adequate medical treatment and informed about their rights. As regards displaced children and children living in conflict areas, the Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to secure their access to basic services, including adequate social and health services and education and development. Finally, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all children living in areas affected by armed hostilities enjoy their human rights on equal footing without any discrimination. Economic exploitation 79. The Committee welcomes the ratification of the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) in June 1998 and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) in November 2000. The Committee notes with appreciation the State party’s efforts to combat child labour, for example through implementing the National Programme against Child Labour, the Omnibus Rules implementing the Labour Code, the establishment of local-level Programme Implementation Committees on Child Labour and the fruitful cooperation with the International Labour Organization and its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. Despite these positive efforts, the Committee is deeply concerned at the high number of child workers (3.7 million working children) in the State party. The Committee is concerned about cultural attitudes and practices as regards child labour and the weak enforcement of labour laws. 80. The Committee recommends to the State party that it: (a) Effectively implement its domestic labour laws and the National Programme against Child Labour as well as its subprogrammes, for example the Elimination of Child Labour in the Tobacco Industry Project and ensure that child workers participate in discussions about the solution to this problem; (b) Improve the labour inspection system in order to safeguard that work performed by children is light work and not exploitative and, in particular, empower the system to monitor and report on the practice of domestic and rural labour by children; (c) Provide former child workers with appropriate recovery and educational opportunities; (d) Continue to seek technical assistance from the International Labour Organization/International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. Drug and substance abuse 81. While noting the State party’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and drug and substance abuse, inter alia, through implementing the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165), and the increased number of treatment and social reintegration services for children, the Committee is deeply concerned at the massive narcotic trade in the Philippines and its adverse effects on children and adolescents. It shares the State party’s concern about the