CRC/C/DNK/CO/4 35. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that municipalities consider the best interests of the child, especially when deciding on placement outside the home and in refugee determination procedures. Respect for the views of the child 36. The Committee welcomes the fact that new legislation, such as the Child’s Reform of 2010, the Act on Parental Responsibility of 2007, and the Care Placement Reform of 2004, has led to strengthening child involvement in decision-making. However, it notes that there is insufficient clarity with regard to the rights of the child to be heard in administrative and legal proceedings, including placement, and that when drafting the municipal child policy called for in the above mentioned legislation, municipalities do not sufficiently involve children. 37. The Committee recommends: (a) that the State party take measures to ensure that the views of children are taken into account (i) when drafting the municipal child policy, including on matters regarding placement and (ii) on all issues relating to the education, health and welfare of children with disabilities; and (b) that more opportunities be created for children to be heard on all matters that concern their rights, including for the next report to the Committee. The Committee also recommends that the State party ensure, through appropriate training, that all professionals and staff dealing with children’s issues are informed and competent to support the expression of children’s views. In this respect the Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 12 (2009) on the right of the child to be heard. C. Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7, 8, 13-17, 19 and 37 (a) of the Convention) Torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 38. The Committee notes with concern that corporal punishment is lawful in the home and in alternative care settings in the Faroe Islands and that, although Government Circular No. 1 on School Discipline (12 January 1994) states that corporal punishment should not be used, there is no explicit prohibition in law. 39. The Committee urges the State party to take measures to ensure that corporal punishment is prohibited in all settings and throughout its territory and to conduct awareness-raising and public education programmes with a view to encouraging the use of alternative disciplinary measures in line with the inherent dignity of the child, while taking due account of the Committee’s general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment. Follow-up to the United Nations study on violence against children 40. With reference to the United Nations study on violence against children (see A/61/299), the Committee encourages the State party to: (a) Prioritize the elimination of all forms of violence against children, including by ensuring implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children, paying particular attention to gender; (b) Provide information concerning the implementation by the State party of the recommendations of the Study in the next periodic report, particularly those highlighted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, namely: 7