CRC/C/CHN/CO/3-4 officials in the context of the implementation of the one-child policy, practices which contravene the fundamental principles and provisions in the Convention. 68. The Committee recommends that the State party promptly and independently investigate and publicly report all incidents of forced abortions and forced sterilization of teenage girls by local authorities in mainland China, and prosecute all officials responsible for such crimes. 69. The Committee is concerned about the low awareness and insufficient services in the area of adolescent health in the State party. 70. The Committee recommends that the State party, in all areas under its jurisdiction, ensure the widespread provision of comprehensive adolescent health services and psychosocial support; improve awareness and knowledge, including by providing sexual- and reproductive-health education in schools and life-skills education on the prevention of substance abuse, and introduce school health services, including youth-sensitive and confidential counselling and care. Mental health 71. The Committee remains concerned about the limited access to and long waiting periods for mental health services available for children in mainland China and Hong Kong, China. 72. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that, in all areas under its jurisdiction, the State party expand preventive and therapeutic mental health services for adolescents (CRC/C/CHN/CO/2, para. 65) and that it adopt comprehensive child mental health policies and ensure that mental health promotion, counselling and prevention of mental health disorders in primary health care, schools and communities are integral features in each policy. Standard of living 73. While welcoming the plan of Hong Kong, China to increase its supply of public housing, the Committee is concerned about the housing conditions in certain poor areas. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned about the increasing child poverty in mainland China and Hong Kong, China and that children of migrants, children of ethnic minorities and asylum-seeking children are disproportionately represented among the poor and live below the poverty line. 74. The Committee urges Hong Kong, China to expedite the implementation of its public housing programme. It further recommends that mainland China and Hong Kong, China adopt a multidimensional set of criteria for assessing and addressing child poverty and take all necessary measures to eliminate regional, ethnic and urbanrural disparities in children’s standard of living through, inter alia, social protection and targeted programmes for children and families who are particularly vulnerable to poverty, such as migrant children, children of ethnic minorities and asylum-seeking children. G. Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the Convention) Education, including vocational training and guidance 75. While the Committee notes the significant achievements made by the State party as regards education in mainland China, including the expansion of early childhood care and education, it is concerned about the increasing disparities in access to and availability of 16

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