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Children with disabilities

56. The Committee notes that the State party has adopted laws, established services and institutions with the aim of supporting children with disabilities, promoting their social participation, including joint learning in schools, and developing their independence. The Committee remains concerned that deep-rooted discrimination still exists and that measures for children with disabilities are not carefully monitored. It also notes with concern that children with disabilities continue to have limited access to education due to lack of political will and financial resources for the necessary equipment and facilities.

57. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) revise and adopt legislation in order to fully protect all children with disabilities, and establish a monitoring system, which carefully records progress made and identifies shortcomings in implementation;

(b) provide community based service that focus on enhancing the quality of life of children with disabilities, meeting their basic needs and ensuring their inclusion and participation;

(c) Carry out awareness-raising campaigns to combat existing discriminatory attitudes and sensitize the public about the rights and special needs of children with disabilities, encourage their inclusion in society and promote respect for the right of children and their parents to be heard;

(d) Make every effort to provide programmes and services for children with disabilities with adequate human and financial resources;

(e) equip schools with the necessary facilities for the inclusive education of children with disabilities and ensure that they can choose their preferred school or move between regular schools and special needs schools according to their best interests;

(f) Provide assistance to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working for and with children with disabilities;

(g) Provide training for professional staff working with children with disabilities, such as teachers, social workers, health, medical, therapeutic and care personnel;

(h) take into account, in this regard, the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (General Assembly resolution 48/96) and the Committee¡Çs general comment No. 9 (2006) on the rights of children with disabilities; and

(i) ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it has signed, and its Optional Protocol (2006).

Mental health

58. The Committee takes notice of data which indicate that a remarkable number of children have reported low levels of emotional well-being, and that poor relationships with parents and teachers may be determinants. It also notes that the number of consultations on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Support Centres for Development Disabilities is increasing. The Committee welcomes the initiation of research and training of medical professionals on the treatment of ADHD, but is concerned that this phenomenon is regarded mainly as a physiological disorder to be cured by drugs and that social determinants are not given due consideration.

59. The Committee recommends that the State party take effective steps to address issues of the emotional and psychological well-being of children and adolescents through a multi-disciplinary approach ensuring effective support in all environments. The Committee also recommends that the State party monitor the trends in the numbers of ADHD diagnoses and ensure that research in this area is conducted independently of the pharmaceutical industry.

Health services

60. The Committee observes with concern that children who do not meet the behavioural expectations of school are transferred to Child Guidance Centres where the standards of professional treatment (including the implementation of the child's right to be heard and the consideration of his or her best interests), are not transparent and where a systematic evaluation of outcomes is not available.

61. The Committee recommends that the State party commissions an independent investigation of the child guidance system and its working methods, including an evaluation of the rehabilitative outcomes, and include information on the results of this review in its next periodic report.