against her or his will unless “competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child”.210 Separation should be avoided not only from biological parents, but also any person holding custody rights, legal or customary primary caregivers, foster parents and persons with whom the child has a strong personal relationship.211 basic concern.215 States are encouraged to respect the primary responsibility of parents, mothers and fathers. States are urged to take all necessary steps to ensure that parents are capable of taking such primary responsibility for their children.216 Overall goals should include minimizing the number of children who require institutional or other forms of long-term care, and to those limited situations in which it is judged to be in the child’s best interests.217 111. Separation from parents or primary caregivers has potentially serious implications on children, including on their right to development.212 It is especially so for young children, who are especially vulnerable to adverse consequences because of their physical dependence on and emotional attachment to such individuals. Young children’s limited ability to comprehend the circumstances of any separation also increases their vulnerability.213 114. Before resorting to separation as the last measure when there are no less intrusive measures to protect a child, States must provide support to the parents so that they can reassume their parental responsibilities and restore or enhance the family’s capacity to take care of the child.218 112. Given the gravity of the impact on the child of separation from his or her parents, such separation should occur only as a last resort, when there are no less intrusive measures to protect the child.214 When separation is considered to be in the best interests of the child 113. The Convention on the Rights of the Child reaffirms that parents or legal guardians have the primary responsibility for promoting their child’s development and well-being, with the child’s best interests as their 115. Separation of a child from her or his parents should be considered only when there are reasonable grounds to believe that a child is, or is likely to be, exposed to severe abuse or neglect by parents.219 The abuse or neglect of a child that may require separation has been interpreted to entail “mental violence”, a form of abuse that includes scaring or threatening a child.220 When there are such grounds, the situation of the child and his or her family has to be assessed, where possible, by a multidisciplinary team of welltrained child-protection professionals with appropriate 210 Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), art. 9(1). 215 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 7 (2005), para. 18, citing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), arts. 18.1 and 27.2. Supporting parental role 211 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 14 (2013), para. 60 216 Ibid., para. 18. 217 Ibid. 212 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 7 (2005) on implementing child rights in early childhood, para. 36. 218 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 14 (2013), para. 61. 213 Ibid., para. 18. 219 Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), art. 9(1). 214 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 14 (2013), para. 61. 220 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 13 (2011), paras. 21(a)-(b) 52.