CRC/C/SLV/CO/3-4 (b) Take all necessary measures to ensure the respect of the best interests of the child and continue its efforts to guarantee specialization and supervision of institutions in charge of adoptions; (c) Ensure that foster parents do not become adoptive parents automatically without going through the regular legal and administrative procedures applicable in case of adoption; Abuse and neglect 52. The Committee, while appreciating the Bill on the Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Domestic Violence, continues to be concerned that there is a very high level of violence present in the Salvadoran society, with acts of violence and abuse characterizing the daily life of many children in the country. The Committee is concerned, in particular, at the level of violence present in the home, which remains very high and is on the rise, in spite of numerous initiatives taken by the State party to prevent domestic violence. The Committee is also concerned that these acts of violence are often neither investigated nor prosecuted. 53. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen current efforts to address the high level of violence present in the society, which affects the daily life of children. Particular attention should be also paid to tackle the problems of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, notably against girls. In particular, the State party should: (a) Intensify public education and awareness campaigns about the negative consequences of violence, abuse and neglect and develop preventive programmes, including family development programmes; (b) Investigate all acts of violence, ill.-treatment and abuse committed against children, including in the home, and prosecute those responsible; (c) Ensure that all victims of violence have access to counselling and assistance through the necessary recovery and reintegration services, including those designed to avoid re-victimization; (d) Ensure the effective implementation of relevant provisions of LEPINA in this respect and speed-up the process of adoption of the Bill on the Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Domestic Violence; (e) Provide adequate protection to child victims of abuse in their homes; (f) Establish the Municipal Councils for the Prevention of violence; (g) Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Corporal punishment 54. The Committee is concerned that corporal punishment is still lawful in the home, according to article 215 of the Family Code. The Committee regrets in particular that the newly adopted LEPINA has not expressly prohibited corporal punishment within the home, as in its article 38 it provides that parents can “adequately and moderately correct” their children. The Committee notes the delegation’s remark that the State party is aware that the LEPINA is not in conformity with the Convention on this particular aspect, and that this is one of the issues that will be discussed in the context of possible future adjustments to the LEPINA. 13