A/HRC/36/61 F. Children 39. It is estimated that two thirds of the Cambodian population are under the age of 30. Realizing the rights of children is therefore particularly important for the future of Cambodia, which is a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and has a number of laws, policies and action plans focusing on children’s rights. As the Special Rapporteur has already noted, considerable progress has been made on education (see A/HRC/33/62, paras. 35-37). At the beginning of the reporting period, the new Law on Juvenile Justice was adopted. The Law seeks to avoid having young offenders tried as adults and receiving custodial sentences. It covers a number of areas, including drug use, crime and homelessness (persons in street situations), and encourages the adoption of management and education strategies that include families and communities in the implementation of juvenile protection policies. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation is working on the implementation of a number of aspects of the Law, as is the Ministry of Justice. The promulgation of the Law is undoubtedly a positive step towards realizing the rights of children. Information received by the Special Rapporteur in October 2016 indicates that the number of young people in detention was increasing because of tougher action against drug use and drug-related crime. The Government should mobilize the human and financial resources necessary to ensure adequate implementation of the Law on Juvenile Justice, carefully monitor its implementation and ensure that the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are respected. 40. Cambodia has experienced a number of problems with residential care facilities, in particular “orphanages”. In recent years, the authorities have striven to close down disreputable facilities and regulate intercountry adoptions, which it banned while it was working on strengthening the implementation of the adoption law so as to better protect Cambodian children and ensure that appropriate safeguards were in place before adoptions were approved. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation launched an action plan in January 2017 for improving childcare with the target of safely returning 30 per cent of children in residential care to their families over the following two years. Poverty is a key concern for many children living in residential care. Programmes aimed at returning children to their families should not only accord with the principle of the best interests of the child but also address several of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing poverty (target 1.2), implementing nationally appropriate social protection systems (target 1.3) and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all (target 10.2). 41. A number of other issues have been brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur that require further investigation. Child labour and trafficking in children are two examples. During the next reporting period, the Government will complete its periodic report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is due in 2018. G. Persons with disabilities 42. The Government’s first report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was due in January 2015. The fact that the report is overdue is a concern, not least because the Government frequently reiterates the importance it places on the rights of persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur is aware that persons with disabilities suffer many disadvantages in Cambodian society. Although this topic has not yet been examined by the Special Rapporteur in depth, during discussions with ministries and through field visits it has become apparent that many public services, including health and education, as well as polling stations, are not physically accessible. 43. The rights of persons with psychosocial or mental health conditions is particularly worrying. Notwithstanding the planned facility in Kandal Province previously mentioned, there is very little professional support available in the country for those with mental health conditions. Given the recent history of Cambodia, in particular the widespread experiences of conflict and genocide, this is problematic. The many public statements on inclusivity made by government ministers, including the Prime Minister, are positive. Cambodia also 11