Ways Forward International Monitoring of the Rights of Girl Children The CEDAW Committee Concluding Observations provide recommendations on ensuring that rights of girl children are protected and promoted. The Committee’s Concluding Comments on the seventh and eight periodic review of the Philippines in July 2016 gave recommendations on using temporary measures for girls, combatting gender-based violence against girls, promote primary education of girls, and promote sexual and reproductive health rights of girls. Concretely, the committee encourages the State to: - - - - - Use temporary special measures to enhance substantive equality of girls and women belonging to disadvantaged sections, including minority groups and communities; Combat gender-based violence by addressing low reporting of incidents, particularly domestic violence and sexual violence, due to stigmatization of and discrimination against victims Prevent, investigate and punish all forms of gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence perpetrated by State and non-State actors, apply a zero-tolerance policy to combat impunity and provide necessary support to women and girls who are at risk or victims of such violence, including during times of armed conflict, in line with the Committee’s general recommendation No. 30 (2013) on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations; Address the root causes of the vulnerability of women and girls to violence, including poverty, inequality in family relations, insecurity, and discriminatory stereotypes; Provide assistance, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for women and girls exploited in prostitution, in addition to exit programmes for women wishing to leave prostitution Promote the enrolment of girls in pre-primary and primary education; and analyze and address obstacles faced by girls who are not enrolled or who have dropped out in school Develop operational guidelines for schools and provide training for teachers in order to deliver high-quality, age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights for all girls and boys, including those with disabilities; and Full implementation of the 2015 Committee recommendations in the inquiry on reproductive health, including access to modern contraceptive and legalization of abortion under certain circumstances. There are two particular recommendations to promote human rights of girls made in the 3​rd Universal Periodic Review: - - “Take immediate steps to permit abortion in cases where a woman’s or a girl’s life or physical or mental health is in danger, where the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest and in cases of fetal impairment, with a view to decriminalizing abortion in the near future (Netherlands);” and Continue its efforts to improve education in the country, to enhance the number of girls enrolled in pre-primary and primary education and to ensure a compulsory and free education (State of Palestine); 11