A/HRC/16/55 prepared by children, describing her personal experience as a campaigner in Ghana, said that sexual violence in schools is preventable. 24. Questions included issues such as the role of the Human Rights Council and of the universal periodic review process in the fight against sexual violence; possible synergies in efforts to address sexual violence; the implementation by States of the recommendations issued by the United Nations Study on Violence against Children; effective prevention measures; challenges to overcome violence in the family context and how to take into account the views of children in the various programmes and policies. 25. Panellists, in both their responses and their concluding remarks, highlighted the importance of international cooperation and the need for the international community to consciously coordinate the efforts of civil society, Governments, and children themselves from the local level up to the global level. It was emphasized that the universal periodic review process could also play an important role in fighting sexual violence by encouraging States under review to make strong commitments and follow-up on these. On prevention, family was the first place to start. It was important to sensitize relevant professionals, ensure transparency, and provide special services and support to children particularly at risk. A few panellists highlighted the need to have safe, accessible reporting mechanisms and to develop a communications procedure aimed at bringing child rights abuses to the attention of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Patriarchal structures, the status of women, and the cycle of violence were mentioned among the root causes of sexual violence. It was suggested that protecting and promoting appropriate social norms in communities, as well as promoting the active participation of children could be part of the solution. It was highlighted that there was much to be learned from good practices in all regions of the world. III. A. Protecting boys and girls from sexual violence: prevention and response Introductory remarks and statements by panellists 26. The afternoon panel was devoted to “Protecting boys and girls from sexual violence: prevention and response”. The panellists included: Susana Villarán de La Puente, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; Victor Karunan, Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation at UNICEF; Najat Maalla M’Jid, Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Eliana Restrepo, Deputy Director of Plan Colombia. 27. The meeting was opened by Ibrahim Salama, Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division of OHCHR. He highlighted that investing efforts and resources in prevention was the most effective way to reduce sexual violence against children. A holistic approach with multisectoral policies, programmes and plans, as well as plans of action, is crucial to prevent and address violence against children. Other measures include collecting reliable data to help raise awareness of the problem and develop effective measures; using internationally recognized indicators to measure their impact; investigating cases of sexual violence against children using child sensitive procedures and establishing child-friendly court procedures to prevent the re-victimization of victims; and ensuring easy access to child-sensitive counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms. 28. Mr. Salama mentioned that the afternoon panel would focus on efforts of the international community to implement the goals and targets of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration and Call for Action to Prevent and Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children and 8