CRC/C/CRI/CO/4 Follow-up to the United Nations study on violence against children 47. The Committee encourages the State party to: (a) Prioritize the elimination of all forms of violence against children, including by ensuring the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children (A/61/299), taking account the outcome and recommendations of the regional consultations for Latin America, paying particular attention to gender; (b) Provide information concerning the implementation by the State party of the recommendations of the above-mentioned study in its next periodic report, particularly those highlighted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, namely: (i) The development of a national comprehensive strategy to prevent and address all forms of violence against children; (ii) The introduction of an explicit national legal ban on all forms of violence against children in all settings; and (iii) The consolidation of a national system of data collection, analysis and dissemination, and a research agenda on violence against children; (c) Cooperate with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children and seek technical assistance, inter alia, from UNICEF, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Office (ILO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as NGO partners. E. 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 48. The Committee recommends that the State party ratify the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions relating to Maintenance Obligations (1973), the Convention on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (1973), and the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (1996). Children deprived of a family environment 49. The Committee recognizes the State party’s efforts to ensure the availability of alternative care services through the establishment by PANI of a system of alternative protection measures. However, it is concerned that many children are placed in institutions rather than in family-type care settings, in particular children in situations of greater vulnerability. 50. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Reinforce its efforts to enable more children to live in a permanent family environment by periodically reviewing the situation of children placed in institutions, reducing the duration of interim placement of children and taking 10

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