Protection against abuse and torture 25. The Committee notes with regret that the State Party promotes corporal punishment in the family as a way of domestic disciplining. However, the Committee has a strong stand that corporal punishment should be banned in all settings taking its negative impact on the physical, mental and psychological wellbeing of the child into consideration; and that State Parties should introduce positive disciplining mechanisms at home. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the State Party legally proscribes corporal punishment and promote positive disciplining without physically or verbally harming the child. 26. Despite the measures taken by the Government to protect children from abuse and torture, the Committee notes that many children are victims of sexual violence and corporal punishments. The Committee reprehends these violations and regrets that many of the sexual abuses are perpetrated by family members. Consequently, the Committee urges the State Party to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of sexual violence and ensures no impunity, and encourages the society to report such cases and stop stigmatization against those who report sexual abuse by family members. In addition, the Committee recommends that the State Party banns corporal punishment in all settings including home and schools. E. Family environment and alternative care Protection of the family, Parental guidance and parental responsibilities 27. The Committee notes that the State Party does not have a comprehensive family law or family policy. In order to advance the protection of the family and regulate the family unit properly, the Committee calls upon the State Party to enact a family code to protect the rights and welfare of the family. 28. The Committee commends the provisions of Act No. 2007-023 of 20 August whereby the State Party provides support to the family in the event that parents are incapable of discharging their responsibility. Despite this legal requirement, there are indications that there is no specific government organ responsible to implement this legal provision which in effect results in the non-implementation of the law. Thus, the Committee encourages the State Party to devise a structure in which the State Party can deliver assistance to the family as provided in the legislation. In addition to this, the Committee learns that majority of the population lives under poverty line which also affects the family and children. The Committee therefore recommends that the State Party provides agricultural support in addition to financial support since the main livelihood of the country is agriculture. An agricultural support could include providing fertilizers and other agricultural goods; introducing commercial agriculture; and providing adequate services to agriculture. 7