CRC/C/GEO/CO/3 page 19 to supporting children at risk at an early stage, by using alternative measures to detention such as diversion, probation, counselling, community service or suspended sentences, wherever possible; (e) Provide children with legal and other assistance at an early stage of the procedure and ensure that children in detention are provided with basic services (e.g. schooling and healthcare); and (f) Request further technical assistance in the area of juvenile justice and police training from the United Nations Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice. Minimum age for criminal responsibility 72. The Committee deeply regrets the decision of the State party to lower the minimum age for criminal responsibility from 14 to 12. 73. The Committee strongly urges the State party to reinstate, as a matter of urgency, the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 14 years, taking into account the Committee’s general comment No. 10 in which States parties are urged not to lower their minimum age of criminal responsibility to the age of 12 (para. 33) on the grounds that a higher age, such as 14 and 16 years of age, contributes to the juvenile justice system which deals with children in conflict with the law without resorting to judicial proceedings, providing that the child’s human rights and legal safeguards are fully respected, in accordance with the article 40(3)(b) of the Convention. Protection of victims and witnesses of crimes 74. The Committee recommends that State party ensure, through adequate legal provisions and regulations, that all children victims and or witnesses of crimes e.g. children victims of abuse, domestic violence, sexual and economic exploitation, abduction, and trafficking and witnesses of such crimes are provided with the protection required by the Convention and to take fully into account the United Nations Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (annexed to Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/20 of 22 July 2005). Children belonging to minority groups 75. While recognizing the State party’s efforts to ensure equal enjoyment of rights for children belonging to minority groups, including the establishment, in 2005, of the Council of National Minorities and the National Council on Civic Integration and Tolerance (NCCIT), the Committee remains concerned that children from minority populations experience discrimination in the enjoyment of their rights as stipulated in the Convention, in particular, concerning culture and language. 76. The Committee notes that after the “Rose Revolution”, the State party has been encouraging its population, through the enforcement of its language law, to use Georgian in all public spheres. However, the Committee is concerned that insufficient efforts have been made by