CRC/C/15/Add.201 page 7 The right to life, survival and development 33. The Committee is encouraged by the decline in infant mortality rates in the State party, but remains concerned at the high rate of accidents including injuries, poisoning and traffic accidents. Furthermore, it is concerned that the suicide rate is relatively high despite the declining trend. 34. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Strengthen efforts to raise awareness about, and undertake public information campaigns in relation to, accident prevention; (b) Study the possible causes of suicide among youths and the characteristics of those who appear to be most at risk, and take steps to put into place additional support and interventional programmes which would reduce this tragic phenomenon. Respect for the views of the child 35. The Committee welcomes the amendment to the Civil Procedure Code, including the information by the State party referring to the regulation of the respect for the child’s views in the Act on Social and Legal Protection of Children and by Amendment to the Act on the Family. The Committee is concerned that children’s participation in other areas, such as school and institutions, is not regulated by legislation or sufficiently observed in practice. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned that awareness of these provisions is quite low, thus contributing to weak observance. 36. The Committee recommends that the State party introduce a comprehensive legal provision establishing the right of the child to participate that would be applicable to courts, administrative bodies, institutions, schools, childcare institutions and families in matters affecting children, and guarantee the right to appeal the decisions, in accordance with article 12 of the Convention. Awareness-raising and educational programmes on the implementation of these principles should be reinforced in order to change traditional perceptions of children as objects rather than subjects of rights. 4. Civil rights and freedoms Name and nationality 37. The Committee welcomes the amendment to the Citizenship Law, adopted in September 1999, which was aimed at resolving the problems of statelessness that had disproportionately affected the Roma population, including children (CAT 14/05/2001, A/56/44, para. 108). 38. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Expedite the procedure of acquiring citizenship and ensure its effective implementation at the local level; (b) Accede to the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of 1954.