CRC/C/COD/CO/3-5 State party to put an end to the practice of female genital mutilation by raising awareness of the harmful effects of the practice and bringing to justice those who carry out the practice and those who collaborate with such practitioners. 29. The Committee expresses its grave concern about reports of an increasing number of murders of, and incidents of ill-treatment and violence against, children accused of witchcraft and the impunity faced by perpetrators linked to certain churches. 30. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (see CRC/C/COD/CO/2, para. 79) and urges the State party to take effective measures to prevent children from being accused of witchcraft, including by continuing and strengthening public awareness-raising activities, directed particularly at parents and religious leaders, and by addressing the root causes, including poverty. The Committee also urges the State party to implement legislative and other measures to criminalize the persecution of children accused of witchcraft and bring to justice persons responsible for violence against and ill-treatment of children accused of witchcraft. The Committee recommends that the State party provide recovery and reintegration measures for children who have been victims of such practices. E. Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5, 9-11, 18 (1) and (2), 20, 21, 25 and 27 (4)) Family environment 31. Noting the Government’s draft decree on the implementation of article 69 of the Child Protection Code, which envisions the provision of material and financial assistance to families living in poverty, the Committee recommends that the State party expedite the adoption of the decree and ensure its effective implementation in order to guarantee the right of children living in poverty to a family environment. Children deprived of a family environment 32. Noting that, despite the existence of the national action plan for orphans and vulnerable children (2010-2014), little progress has been achieved with regard to providing children without parental care with an adequate standard of living in a family environment, or with regard to the inadequate and insufficient foster care and the deplorable situation in institutions, the Committee draws the State party’s attention to the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Recalling its previous recommendations (see CRC/C/COD/CO/2, para. 46), the Committee recommends that the State party develop and strengthen an alternative care strategy for children deprived of their families, or no longer able to live with their families, that would include an action plan, adequate regulations, training for staff and directors of childcare institutions, control measures, the participation of children and parents in the establishment and evaluation of care regulations, criteria for the admittance of a child into residential care, and alternative measures, such as foster-care families or other family-based care for small groups of children. It recommends that the State party back its strategy and action plan with sufficient human, technical and financial resources. Adoption 33. Noting the insufficient legislative basis and procedures for intercountry adoption of children, which have led to numerous abuses, including the sale and trafficking of children, and to the suspension of intercountry adoption procedures in the cases of 1,200 children, the Committee recommends that the State party: 9