parliament since 2013 should be adopted and measures taken to address the high rate of child abuse cases. Survival and Development 13. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State Party has adopted laws to ensure the survival and development of children and has devised a strategy for improving health services for mothers and children. The Committee is however concerned that despite the protection in Constitution and other domestic laws, life and survival of girls who would like to terminate pregnancy continues to be violated. The Committee recommends the enforcement of these laws along with the strategy and calls on the State Party to repeal Act 29 of the Criminal Code 1960 prohibiting abortion which has lead to girls seeking unsafe abortion thereby risking their lives. D. Civil Rights and Freedoms Name, Nationality, Identity and Registration of Birth 14. The Committee congratulates the State Party for improving the birth registration rate from 17% in 2002 to 66% in 2013 and ensuring birth certificates are received along with carrying out weekly outreach programs with the Birth and Death Unit. The Committee also notes the initiative to register new born babies for free within twelve months of delivery. 15. The committee is however concerned with the fact that a high number of births are still unregistered which leaves such children at risk. The Committee is also concerned that article 6 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and section 7 of the Citizenship Act 2000 are contrary to Article 6 of the Charter which risks some children being stateless. The Committee observes that the Birth and Death Registry Unit faces human and financial constraints in implementing its programmes which poses a risk to maintaining and improving on the current birth registration rate. The Committee therefore recommends that the State Party increase funding to the Birth and Death Registry to ensure the implementation of its programme, involve civil society organisations in promotion and publicity efforts, undertake an assessment on statelessness to establish the number of stateless children and those at risk of statelessness to effectively address the issue, and undertake efforts with the view to amending provisions on citizenship that are contrary to the Charter. Protection against abuse and torture 16. The Committee commends the State Party for its efforts to protect children from abuse and torture by including child protection measures in the Constitution, The Children’s Act, Domestic Violence Act and Human Trafficking Act along with 5