CRC/C/TJK/CO/2 Dissemination of the Convention and training 20. The Committee welcomes the efforts made to raise public awareness about the Convention and notably the introduction of human rights in curricula of high schools and the introduction of a National Human Rights Day, as well as brochures, posters on children’s rights and newspapers on human rights. While noting that many dissemination and training activities were undertaken with the assistance of UNICEF or together with non-governmental organizations only in some regions, the Committee remains concerned at the lack of a systematic and sustained approach in this regard. 21. The Committee recommends that the State party develop a systematic and sustainable programme for dissemination of information regarding the implementation of the Convention among children, parents, civil society and all sectors and levels of government throughout the country. The programme should involve developing training programmes for all professional groups working with and for children. The Committee encourages the State party to seek technical assistance from, inter alia, the UNICEF and other relevant agencies, in this regard. Cooperation with civil society 22. The Committee notes the efforts made by the State party to involve the civil society in the implementation of the Convention, by allowing active participation in awarenessraising and training activities. The Committee, however, remains concerned that much of this cooperation is project-based and that the State party relies heavily on NGOs for the implementation of some of the provisions of the Convention without providing them with adequate resources, policies and guidelines. 23. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party consider systematically involving civil society throughout all stages of the implementation of the Convention, including policy-making. The Committee also encourages the State party to support initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of NGOs. The Committee further recommends that, being guided by the recommendations adopted on the Committee’s day of general discussion on the private sector as service provider and its role in implementing child rights held on 29 September 2002 (CRC/C/121, paras. 630-653), the State party assume its responsibilities under the Convention fully. 2. Definition of the Child (art. 1 of the Convention) Definition of the child 24. The Committee is concerned that the minimum legal age for marriage in Tajikistan has been reduced to 17. 25. The Committee urges the State party to revert to 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for women and men, as recommended by the Committee on on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 2007. 3. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12 of the Convention) Non-discrimination 26. While acknowledging the legislative amendments and actions taken to address discrimination against women and girls, the Committee remains concerned about the limited implementation of these laws and the persisting de facto discrimination against 5