CRC/C/GEO/CO/3
page 10
41.
The Committee urges the State party to:
(a)
Strengthen public awareness campaigns and provide information, parental
guidance and counselling with a view, inter alia, to prevent child abuse and neglect;
(b)
Reinforce mechanisms for monitoring the number of cases and the extent of
violence, sexual abuse and neglect within the family;
(c)
Ensure that professionals working with children (including teachers, social
workers, medical professionals, members of the police and the judiciary) receive training on
their obligation to report and take appropriate action in suspected cases of domestic
violence affecting children;
(d)
Strengthen support for victims of abuse and neglect in order to ensure their
access to adequate services for recovery, counselling and other forms of rehabilitation; and
(e)
Support the establishment of a toll-free, 24-hour and nationally accessible
child helpline service with three-digit number, to be able to reach out to all children in need
of care or assistance throughout the country.
5. Basic health and welfare
(arts. 6; 18, paras. 3; 23; 24; 26 and 27, paras 1-3 of the Convention)
Children with disabilities
42.
The Committee, while welcoming the various measures aimed at promoting inclusive
education for children with disabilities with a view to using the model in all schools, regrets the
lack of a comprehensive government policy for children with disabilities which takes into
account their overall developmental needs, including their right not to be discriminated against,
the right to education and the right to health.
43.
The Committee recommends that the State party, taking into account the general
comment No. 9 (2006) on the rights of children with disabilities:
(a)
Consider ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
and its Optional Protocol;
(b)
Ensure implementation of the Standard Rules for Equalizing the Possibilities
for Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the General Assembly on 23 December 1993;
(c)
Pursue efforts to ensure that children with disabilities may exercise their right
to education to the maximum extent possible;
(d)
Undertake awareness-raising campaigns to sensitize the public, and parents
in particular, on the rights and special needs of children with disabilities, including those
with mental health concerns; and