CRC/C/TJK/CO/2 2. Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5, 18 (paras. 1-2), 9-11, 19-21, 25, 27 (para. 4) and 39 of the Convention) Family environment and parental responsibilities 42. The Committee notes that the Family Code provides for issues concerning the child’s upbringing to be decided by mutual agreement of parents for the best interests of the child and with respect to his or her opinion. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned at the fact that many parents prefer institutionalization of children for economic reasons and that most families are not aware of the negative effects that institutionalization can have on a child’s development. 43. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Support families so that they can carry out their parental responsibilities, inter alia, by strengthening the family structure and creating a social network of child protection at community level; (b) Provide economic and social assistance programmes for families with a special attention to most vulnerable families such as the single-headed families in order to prevent institutionalization. (c) Raise public awareness about the negative impact of institutionalization on a child’s development; (d) Support the development of community based and family focused childcare services. Children deprived of a family environment 44. While noting the deinstitutionalization efforts by the State party, the Committee however is concerned that the number of children in state institutions has increased by 38 per cent during the reporting period. It is particularly concerned at the new tendency of temporary institutionalization of children due to the migration of parents. The Committee regrets that alternative care for children deprived of family care is rarely available other than in the form of institutionalization, while the conditions in care institutions are poor and no monitoring on the standards of care is conducted by the State. 45. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Continue its efforts for taking measures on de-institutionalization throughout the country; (b) Improve the quality of care in child care institutions and introduce mechanisms of monitoring of standards of care (c) Set clear standards for existing child care institutions and ensure a regular periodic review of placement in all the districts of the State party in light of article 25 of the Convention and the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children ( A/RES/64/142); Adoption 46. The Committee welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the State party regarding adoption, such as restrictions to intercountry adoptions in response to the lack of sufficient monitoring of such adoptions. The Committee also welcomes the State party’s commitment indicated during the dialogue to amend its legislation on adoption to ensure that it includes the principle of the best interests of the child. Nevertheless, the Committee 9