CRPD/C/GC/4 within the classroom pedagogy, through school councils, in the development of school policies and systems, and in the development of the wider educational policy. 19 48. Article 8 calls for measures to raise awareness and challenge stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, targeting in particular practices affecting women and girls with disabilities, persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with intensive support requirements. Stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices constitute barriers that impede both access to and effective learning within the education system. The Committee notes the practice of some parents removing their children with disabilities from inclusive schools, on the basis of a lack of awareness and understanding of the nature of disability. States parties must adopt measures to build a culture of diversity, participation and involvement in community life and to highlight inclusive education as a means of achieving a quality education for all students, with and without disabilities, parents, teachers and school administrations, as well as the community and society. States parties must ensure that mechanisms are in place to foster, at all levels of the education system and among parents and the wider public, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities. Civil society, in particular organizations representing persons with disabilities, should be involved in all awareness-raising activities. 49. Articles 9 and 24 are closely interconnected. Accessibility is a precondition for the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society. Persons with disabilities cannot effectively enjoy their right to inclusive education without an accessible built environment, including schools and all other places of education, and without accessible public transport, services, information and communications technologies. Modes and means of teaching should be accessible and teaching should be conducted in accessible environments. The whole environment in which students with disabilities learn must be designed in such a way as to foster inclusion. Inclusive education is also a powerful tool for the promotion of accessibility and universal design. 50. The Committee calls States parties’ attention to its general comment No. 1 (2014) on equal recognition before the law and stresses that inclusive education provides students with disabilities, in particular those with psychosocial or intellectual impairments, with an opportunity to express their will and preferences. States parties must ensure that inclusive education supports learners with disabilities in building their confidence to exercise legal capacity, providing the necessary support at all educational levels, including to diminish future requirements for support if they so wish. 51. Persons with disabilities, in particular women and girls with disabilities, can be disproportionately affected by violence and abuse, including physical and humiliating punishments by educational personnel, for example through the use of restraints and seclusion and bullying by others in and en route to school. To give effect to article 16 (2), States parties are required to take all appropriate measures to provide protection from and prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including sexual violence, against persons with disabilities. Such measures must be age-, gender- and disability-sensitive. The Committee strongly endorses the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that States parties prohibit all forms of corporal punishment and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in all settings, including schools, and ensure effective sanctions against perpetrators. 20 It encourages schools and other educational centres to involve students, including students with disabilities, in the development of policies, including accessible protection mechanisms, to address disciplinary measures and bullying, including 19 20 14 Ibid., general comment No. 12 (2009) on the right of the child to be heard. Ibid., general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment.