CRC/C/15/Add.237 page 10 Adoption 46. The Committee notes that adoption is regulated by the 1993 Child Law, the Registration of Kittima Adoption Act, 1939 and customary law, but regrets the lack of concrete information in the State party’s reports on adoption, including intercountry adoption. The Committee is concerned that this legislation may not conform fully with the Convention, notably that they do not always take into account the best interests of the child and, where appropriate, the views of the child. 47. In line with its previous recommendations (ibid., para. 36) and in light of article 21 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party amend its current domestic legislation and practice with regard to adoption to ensure conformity with the Convention. Additionally, the Committee encourages the State party to accede to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 1993. The Committee further recommends that the State party seek technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF. Violence, abuse, neglect and maltreatment 48. The Committee notes that the 1993 Child Law contains various provisions on violence against children, but is seriously concerned at the lack of appropriate measures, mechanisms and resources to prevent and combat domestic violence, including physical and sexual abuse and neglect of children; the limited number of services for abused children; as well as the lack of data on the aforementioned. 49. In light of article 19 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Undertake a comprehensive study on violence against children in order to assess the scope, nature and causes of such violence and to adopt effective measures and policies; (b) Duly investigate cases of domestic violence and violence in schools through child-sensitive judicial procedures and sanction perpetrators, giving due regard to guaranteeing the right to privacy of the child; (c) Strengthen awareness-raising campaigns for the purpose of preventing and combating child abuse, with the involvement of children; (d) Allocate funds to provide services for physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration to the victims of rape, abuse, neglect, ill-treatment, violence or exploitation, in accordance with article 39 of the Convention; (e) Evaluate the work of existing structures and provide training to the professionals working with child victims of violence; and (f) Seek technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF.

Select target paragraph3