A/HRC/12/12 Page 8 33. In response to questions concerning street-children, the delegation stated that efforts by the Child and Adolescent Institute of Uruguay to provide support for children living in the street have been underway for years and provided information about specific programmes. In the south, where the needs are greater and populations with scarce resources are concentrated, 21 primary attention centres were created. A mobile unit was also created for emergencies and homes have been established for children in transit in 17 departments of the country. However, 500 children still live on the streets, especially due to mistreatment and abuse in their families. 34. The Ministry of Social Development developed social indicators on the Millennium Development Goals established at the national level. While extreme poverty was reduced by 50 per cent between 2005 and 2006, the reduction of poverty has been less dramatic. Since 2008, an equity plan was established in order to reduce poverty and social inequality. In terms of education, the main challenge has been to reduce the dropout rate among adolescents. The delegation provided information about programmes addressing this phenomenon and mentioned that the percentage of the national budget dedicated to education has increased and is projected to reach 4.5 per cent by the end of 2009. 35. Uruguay said that child mortality has been reduced as well as maternal mortality, including a reduction in high-risk pregnancy and teen pregnancy. Uruguay has complied with international standards concerning access to drinking water and sanitation, which is enjoyed by more than 98 per cent of the population. 36. Uruguay has been conducting a survey on child labour and will prohibit by decree the worst types of child labour in compliance with the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (ILO Convention No. 182). Uruguay has criminalized human trafficking (Law No. 18250 of 2008) as well as pornography, prostitution and trafficking related to sexual exploitation (Law No. 17815 of 2004). Among training initiatives a protocol for consulates and embassies is under consideration; efforts are also being made to develop various local and national initiatives to address this phenomenon. At the level of MERCOSUR there have been coordinated efforts to monitor the situation in some border areas. 37. Turkey noted that prison conditions remain a problem. Turkey recommended that Uruguay (a) continue to allocate sufficient resources to address the challenges of overcrowding and inadequate health and other services in the prisons and to bring prison conditions into line with international standards; (b) strengthen its efforts to draw up comprehensive strategies and action plans to eradicate the scourge of trafficking in persons; (c) implement effectively the action plan launched by the Committee to Eradicate Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in 2007; (d) step up efforts to address the problem of high dropout rates, particularly in the secondary schools, and continue to invest in education. 38. India commended the launching of the National Plan for Equality of Opportunity and Rights, the establishment of a committee to eradicate commercial and non-commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and the adoption of the Migration Act, the issuance of identity cards for all citizens and the introduction of the electronic live births certification scheme in 2008. . India asked questions about the Law on the Expiry of the Punitive Claims of the State, minimum age of marriage and ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. India urged Uruguay to maintain its high standards with respect to retention rates and secondary education and to expedite the process of setting up an independent and effective national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles.