A/HRC/23/59 were violations of the rights of the child that had a devastating impact on the child’s physical and psychological health and development. Physical consequences included HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, abortions and other severe complications that could even lead to death. Psychologically, it could lead to the loss of self-esteem, self-mutilation, additive behaviours and suicide. Detecting the different forms of violence and sexual exploitation was a challenge, as children were too ashamed to discuss such matters, and sometimes the aggressor was a person known to the child and the family. All medical staff should be trained in detecting the signs of physical and sexual abuse in children. The skills of medical staff should be bolstered by legislation, especially by procedures for reporting such incidents. The protection of child victims of violence and sexual exploitation should be multidisciplinary, addressing legal, psychological, social and medical aspects. Healthcare staff were essential not only in detection of sexual violence but also in reporting it to the authorities and in follow-up services. Perpetrators should be punished and the victims should be protected and provided with appropriate compensation. 15. On the question of the links between child marriage and the non-fulfilment of an adolescent’s right to sexual and reproductive health, Ms. Amin stated that the statistics on child marriage were daunting. She pointed out that, in developing countries, more than 30 per cent of girls were married before the age of 18, and noted that, ironically, parents viewed marriage as an effective way of protecting their daughters from abuse. Girl marriage, which was a violation of the rights of the child, was often accompanied by early pregnancy, with major risks for both the mother and the child. The devastating consequences of child marriage continued to be ignored and all necessary action should be taken to stop this harmful practice. Health education in school was essential for the development of children, especially because it provided the tools necessary for children to make the right decisions in life. She added that children and adolescents had the right to age-appropriate and comprehensive information on sexuality and reproduction as part of health education. Comprehensive sexual education, which extended beyond information on biological reproduction and disease transmission, should be provided to children and adolescents as part of the school curriculum. 16. In summing up, the moderator emphasized four key themes that had emerged in the discussion: evidence; society; voice; and opportunity. He noted that gathering reliable evidence was critical to resolving problems. Children were at the heart of society, and the health of children was a barometer that measured the present and future moral and political commitment to a more just world. The voices of children were critical to a participatory process, and it was necessary to seize all opportunities to realize the right of the child to health. C. Plenary discussion 17. During the interactive discussion, the delegations of Armenia, Bahrain (on behalf of the Group of Arab States), the Congo, the Council of Europe, Estonia, the European Union, Gabon (on behalf of the African Group), Germany, Haiti, Iran (Islamic Republic of) Jordan, Nepal, Norway, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Paraguay, Qatar, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, the Sudan, Sweden (on behalf of a cross-regional group), Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America and Uruguay took the floor. The national human rights institutions and nongovernmental organizations that took the floor were the National Human Rights Council of Morocco, Human Rights Watch, Caritas International, Defence for Children International and World Vision International. 18. During the discussion, many delegations referred to efforts they were making at the national level to ensure the implementation of the right of the child to the highest attainable 6