CRC/C/CRI/CO/4 decisions on the placement of children within reasonable time and in accordance with the best interests of the child; (b) Consider the placement of children in institutions as a measure of last resort for the shortest period possible, and take all necessary measures to allow children in alternative care settings to return to their families, whenever possible; (c) Give preference to family-type care over institutions for children who cannot live with their families; (d) Undertake a study to assess the situation of children placed in institutions, including their living conditions and the services provided, establish clear standards for existing institutions, and ensure a comprehensive mechanism of periodic review of placement in light of article 25 of the Convention, taking into account the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Adoption 51. While noting information provided by the State party delegation that the Constitutional Chamber declared direct adoptions unconstitutional, as well as the State party’s efforts to regulate adoptions through the approval by PANI in 2008 of new regulations for national and international adoption processes, the Committee remains concerned that direct adoptions are still being performed. It is also concerned that insufficient regulation of private adoption services combined with weak control and monitoring mechanisms may result in cases of child trafficking. 52. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Enact and effectively implement legislation prohibiting direct adoptions by agreement between the biological and the adoptive parents without intervention by PANI, include PANI in all adoption procedures and harmonize domestic legislation with international legal standards on adoption, in particular the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993); (b) Effectively ban direct adoptions and revise existing administrative procedures of adoption processes of PANI to minimize the incentives for such adoptions; (c) Improve coordination between the judicial and administrative bodies in order to ensure the harmonization of adoption procedures, regulate private adoption services and monitor and restrict international adoptions, in accordance with article 21 (b) of the Convention; and (d) Investigate all cases of irregularities in adoption procedures, prosecute and adequately punish perpetrators of unlawful adoptions and child trafficking, and establish adequate control mechanisms to prevent violations of relevant laws and regulations on adoption. Abuse and neglect 53. The Committee acknowledges the State party’s efforts to combat child abuse and neglect, such as the National Plan to Combat Violence (2006) and the establishment of Child Abuse Research Committees, the adoption of a Domestic Violence Programme, as well as the provision of psychological counselling to children who are victims of domestic violence. However, the Committee is concerned about the fact that domestic violence is on the rise, the high incidence of intra-family and sexual violence against children and adolescents, in particular girls, as well as the increase in the number of cases of abduction of persons without full legal capacity. It is also concerned about the lack of information on 11