CRPD/C/GC/5 included in the community, particular attention should be paid to gender equality, the elimination of gender-based discrimination and patriarchal social patterns. 73. Cultural norms and values may adversely restrict the choices and control of women and girls with disabilities over their living arrangements, limit their autonomy, oblige them to live in particular living arrangements, require them to suppress their own requirements and instead serve those of others and take certain roles within the family. 9 States parties should take measures to tackle discrimination and barriers against women in accessing social services and support, as well as ensure that various policies, programmes and strategies concerning access to social services and support take due consideration of the equality between women and men. 74. States parties should also ensure that measures aimed at development, empowerment and advancement of women and girls with disabilities (art. 6 (2)) address gender-based inequalities in accessing support and social protection. States parties should adopt adequate measures to encourage work-life balance (resources, time, services) that support women with disabilities in (re-)entering the open labour market and ensure equal rights and responsibilities between women and men for the exercise of parental responsibilities. 10 It is also the responsibility of States parties to ensure that shelters for victims of gender-based violence are fully accessible to women and girls with disabilities. 75. The existence of adequate and age-sensitive support services for girls and boys with disabilities is of vital importance for the equal enjoyment of their human rights (art. 7). Respecting the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and supporting them in having a say in choices that have an impact on them is critical. It is also important to provide support, information and guidance to families (art. 23) to prevent institutionalization of children with disabilities and to have inclusive policies on adoption to ensure equal opportunities to children with disabilities. 76. When it comes to social interactions and relationships with peers, teenagers may prefer personal assistance or professional sign language interpreters to informal support provided by relatives. States parties should establish innovative forms of support and accessible services for children and adolescents with disabilities through personal contact or through their organizations. Children with disabilities may require support to practise sports or activities in the community with other children their age. Adolescents with disabilities should be enabled to spend time and take part in leisure activities with their peers. States parties must provide assistive devices and technologies that can facilitate the inclusion of adolescents with disabilities in their peer networks. Further, services that facilitate the transition of young people to adulthood, including support with moving out of the family home, starting employment and continuing into higher education, are crucial in supporting independent living. 77. Awareness-raising (art. 8) is essential to create open, enabling and inclusive communities, as article 19 is ultimately about transforming communities. Stereotypes, ableism and misconceptions that prevent persons with disabilities from living independently must be eradicated and a positive image of them and their contributions to society must be promoted. Awareness-raising should be provided for authorities, civil servants, professionals, the media, the general public and persons with disabilities and their families. All awareness-raising activities should be carried out in close cooperation with persons with disabilities through their representative organizations. 78. The rights provided for in article 19 are tied to the obligations of the States parties relating to accessibility (art. 9) because the general accessibility of the whole built environment, transport, information, and communication and related facilities and services open to the public in a community is a precondition for living independently in the community. Article 9 requires the identification and elimination of barriers in buildings open to the public, such as the revision of building and urban planning codes, the inclusion 9 10 14 Ibid., paras. 8, 18, 29 and 55. See Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general recommendation No. 21 (1994) on equality in marriage and family relations.