E/C.12/BFA/CO/1 45. The Committee recommends that the State party redouble its efforts to reduce the high rate of infant mortality, particularly among children under 5 years of age, to ensure that births are assisted by duly qualified health professionals and to provide regular medical check-ups for children under 5. It also recommends that the State party take steps to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity, in particular by improving access by women to basic obstetric and neonatal care. In that connection, the Committee invites the State party to take account of the technical guidance provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality (A/HRC/21/22). Sexual and reproductive health 46. The Committee is concerned at the criminalization of abortion in all circumstances, without exception, which drives women to resort to dangerous abortions that may put their lives and their health at serious risk. The Committee is also concerned at the high levels of pregnancy, including teenage pregnancies, which are due in part to the inaccessibility and unavailability of appropriate sexual and reproductive health-care services and to the difficulties faced by women in obtaining access to means of contraception. It regrets that, in practice, rape victims do not have access to emergency contraceptives and are obliged to pay for their own medical care (art. 12). 47. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Repeal its legislation on the penalization of abortion with a view to adopting legislation compatible with women’s rights to life, health and dignity and to take measures to prevent dangerous abortions; (b) Redouble its efforts to ensure the availability and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services, in particular the provision of emergency contraceptives and free medical supervision, including for victims of rape; (c) Expand and improve comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education for both sexes in primary and secondary schools. 48. The Committee refers in this respect to its general comment No. 22. Access to education 49. The Committee welcomes the rise in primary school enrolment rates in the State party, particularly owing to the introduction of free primary education. It is nonetheless concerned by: (a) Reports that schooling still involves indirect costs in the form of financial contributions required of parents, which would limit access to primary education; (b) Continued inequality in access to education, particularly affecting children with a disability and children living in rural areas; (c) The high dropout rate in primary and secondary schools, in particular among girls; (d) The poor quality of teaching due to an insufficient number of qualified teachers and the lack of infrastructure and teaching materials; (e) The high illiteracy rate, especially in rural areas and among women (art. 13). 50. The Committee recommends that the State party take stronger measures to guarantee the effective application of free education in primary schools and, gradually, GE.16-11935 9