E/C.12/KHM/CO/1 page 11 in defending the economic, social and cultural rights of their communities against any intimidation, threat and violence, whether perpetrated by State security forces and agents or non-State actors. It also calls on the State party to ensure that all alleged cases of repression and abuse are promptly and thoroughly investigated, and that alleged perpetrators are prosecuted and appropriately punished, if found guilty. The Committee requests the State party to provide, in its next periodic report, detailed information on the progress made in preventing and punishing the repressions and abuses. 32. The Committee notes with serious concern that the maternal mortality rate in the State party has remained unchanged and that the State party is not on track to meet its 2015 Millennium Development Goal target and that rates of delivery in health facilities remained low at 22 per cent in 2005, due to obstacles including fees, a shortage of midwives and the fact that most health centres do not operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the Committee notes with concern that abortion rates are increasing and unsafe abortions are key factors to maternal mortality. The Committee also notes with concern that newborn mortality is still high despite the progress of the State party in addressing infant mortality and mortality of children under 5 years old. (art. 12) The Committee recommends that the State party enforce and monitor the implementation of the Ministry of Health’s re-deployment and rotation policy to ensure midwives in all health centres country-wide and to provide accommodation and living allowance for midwives. The Committee also recommends that the State party develop maternal “waiting homes” in remote areas, community care for mothers and newborns and establish in-service training for midwives. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party upgrade training and service delivery for the full implementation of the Law on Abortions. 33. The Committee is deeply concerned that the years of turmoil and violence in the State party have resulted in high levels of mental health problems and yet there are no provisions for treatment of people suffering from mental disorders. The Committee notes with alarm that the lack of mental health services often results in patients being incarcerated in prisons, compulsory drug treatment centres or social rehabilitation centres that offer poor mental or social services, and where there have been instances of abuse and where individuals who should be receiving mental health care have been held criminally responsible, convicted and imprisoned. (art. 12) The Committee strongly recommends that the State party consider enacting a mental health law and adopting a comprehensive mental health strategic plan that includes partnership with NGOs and private sector stakeholders. The Committee also recommends that the State party ensure that individuals with mental health problems are not sent to prison. 34. The Committee notes with concern that primary education is not compulsory in the State party, although the primary education net enrolment ratio has increased over the last few years and has expanded to cover most parts of the country. The Committee notes that primary education continues to be a problem for the various ethnic minorities in the north and east of the country, where there are 20 minority languages spoken by these groups as their mother tongue