automatic placement of this category of children in long-term residential care and instead prioritise other types of care in a family-type environment. He also calls on the authorities to allocate sufficient funds, implement information campaigns and trainings in order to increase the number of guardians and foster families. 85. The Commissioner is concerned by the situation of children in long-term state care institutions, including children with disabilities, and urges the authorities to move forward the stalled deinstitutionalisation process. As a first step, the authorities should refrain from placing additional persons in residential institutions, and prioritise efforts aimed at creating community-based services in order to provide all children with viable mechanisms for exercising their right to independent living in their communities. Providing adequate support to parents of children with disabilities should be one of the measures given priority in this context. 86. In order for deinstitutionalisation to advance, it is important to improve cooperation between state and local authorities, especially as concerns the assessment of the needs and capacities at the local level and the allocation of funds. It would also be advisable for municipal authorities to adopt more ambitious locally-tailored programmes and support the national strategies and policies in this field. 87. Pending the progressive shift away from placement in institutions towards care within the community, large residential care facilities should strive to ensure an environment and quality of care conducive to the child’s development. Large institutions pose a higher risk of violence and sexual abuse to residents and measures should be taken to continuously strengthen the national human rights protection framework to reinforce preventive action. In this regard, the Commissioner acknowledges the monitoring activities of the Ombudsperson and the State Inspectorate for Protection of Children’s Rights. The Commissioner recommends further strengthening of the national human rights architecture through ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and establishment of an adequately resourced National Preventive Mechanism. 88. Latvia has an obligation to ensure access to inclusive education for children with disabilities in accordance with Article 24 of the UN CRPD. However, the placement of students with disabilities in mainstream classes can only be successful if accompanied by structural changes. The authorities have expressed a commitment to integrate children with special needs in mainstream schools, and the Commissioner urges them to implement those policies in close cooperation with local governments and educational establishments. He also encourages them to reinforce their efforts to collect disaggregated data and conduct research, with a view to developing more effective policies and interventions. Further guidance in this regard may be found in the General Comment No 4 on meeting the obligations under CRPD Article 24. 89. There is a need to make a clear break from old practices, related to widely-held and unchallenged beliefs, that favour segregated schooling for children with disabilities. The Commissioner is of the opinion that, when implemented properly, inclusive education has benefits for the wider population. He therefore recommends that all policy measures in this area be accompanied by awareness-raising about the right of persons with disabilities to inclusive education and the need to protect them from discrimination in the education system. 19