A/HRC/12/42 page 14 24. The situation in orphanages remains critical. Most of the children in these institutions are not orphans but rather recruited to the orphanages with promises to parents that their children will receive a better education and other opportunities. These institutions have become business ventures or money-making opportunities for the directors of the orphanages, who collect funds and finance from unsuspecting donors and uninformed rural families. A majority of the orphanages do not comply with the Minimum Standards for Operating Child Welfare institutions promulgated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW). Most orphanages have more than the recommended 50 children but do not have adequate accommodation. The provision of health care is inadequate, as most institutions have no clinic on the premises and children must therefore be transported over long distances to the nearest clinic when they fall sick. While most orphanages also run schools, conditions are very poor with shortages of scholastic materials and well-trained teachers. According to many reports, children in orphanages continue to suffer both physical and sexual abuse and some orphanages are reported to be involved in facilitating “informal” or illegal adoptions, thus raising concern that they may also be involved in child trafficking. Through the persistent efforts of the County Child Protection Committee, HRPS learnt in June 2009 that the MoHSW had closed down Bledisha orphanage. Reports had consistently linked Bledisha orphanage in Grand Gedeh County to child trafficking.27 In other instances, attempts by the MoHSW to close certain substandard orphanages were frustrated by political interference. For example, in March 2009, the MoHSW attempted to close the West African Support Community Network (WASCN) but they were initially obstructed by a senator and senior police officers. The organization was reportedly involved in facilitating illegal adoptions. The MoHSW eventually succeeded in closing the orphanage and 34 children resident at WASCN were placed with Don Bosco Homes. The WASCN instituted a lawsuit challenging the actions of the MoHSW. The matter is still before the courts. The MoHSW is also making efforts to improve the rules and regulations on orphanages, and to this end has commenced discussions with orphanage owners about developing new regulations relating to the provision of alternative care for children in Liberia. 25. The Gender Equity and Child Development Committee of the House of Representatives initiated the process of drafting a children’s act which lays down, inter alia, a bill of child rights and governmental duties, parental duties and rights, standards in juvenile justice and standards for child protection practitioners and organizations, as well as provisions relating to alternative care for children. At present, government responsibility for child protection and welfare is split between several ministries and committees, with no clear central decision-making or accountability mechanism. Alongside these efforts, the MoHSW is in the process of developing a national social welfare policy and plan which will address the needs of vulnerable children. D. Economic and social rights 26. A large percentage of the Liberian population, particularly the rural and urban poor, have limited access to health and social welfare services and are therefore unable to fully realize their economic and social rights. Through implementation of the PRS, the Liberian Government is progressively working towards improvement of these rights. 27 See UNMIL Report on the Human Rights Situation in Liberia for the period November 2007-June 2008, p. 16, para. 40.