CRC/C/15/Add.170 page 16 (d) Many children and families from some distinct ethnic, religious, linguistic or cultural groups, such as the Roma, are not fully aware of their rights to social security and welfare and are consequently unable to claim such assistance. 63. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Proceed with efforts to make the National Welfare Organization fully operational; (b) Improve the availability of welfare specialists, including social workers, lawyers, speech therapists and psychologists; (c) Ensure that all children, in all parts of the country, have easy access to welfare services; (d) Strengthen the provision of information on social security and welfare benefits to children and families in need of such assistance from distinct ethnic, religious, linguistic or cultural groups, including the Roma. Standard of living 64. The Committee is concerned that: (a) Some children in the State party live in very poor conditions; (b) Children from Roma communities are particularly exposed to substandard living conditions, including inadequate housing, poor sanitation and waste disposal, and no running water. 65. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Ensure that all children have access to adequate living conditions; (b) Give particular attention to assisting Roma families to improve the living conditions of their children. 7. Education, leisure and cultural activities 66. Acknowledging the many activities of the State party towards improving access to education and the quality of education and introducing multicultural teaching, the Committee remains concerned about a variety of problems that still exist, such as: (a) The closing of many rural schools, thereby limiting the access of children from rural communities to education; (b) Reports of xenophobia among teachers and students;

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