A/HRC/16/55 programmes were able to reduce the gaps generated inter alia by conditions such as environment, family and poverty. B. Plenary discussion 37. In the interactive dialogue following the afternoon presentations, representatives of Spain (on behalf of the European Union), Paraguay, Senegal, Slovakia, Israel, South Africa, Belgium, Peru, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Morocco, the Maldives (speaking also on behalf Mauritius), Colombia, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Norway, Pakistan, Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Poland, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, India, Argentina (speaking on behalf of the Common Market of the South, MERCOSUR), Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Japan, Finland, Thailand, the Holy See, Panama, Slovenia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Lichtenstein and Egypt took the floor. Also speaking was a representative of End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT International). 38. There was general agreement among speakers that sexual crimes happened everywhere in the world and that violence against children was never justifiable. Most speakers agreed that it was critical to focus on prevention and one speaker highlighted that sexual violence against children was preventable when social and legal norms were respected. Many speakers warned about the danger presented by the use of new technologies, as well as the greater mobility in travel and tourism. In particular, sexual exploitation of children needed to be combated by strengthened common action. It was highlighted that there is still a considerable gap between policies on children’s rights and their implementation and that cooperation between State and local authorities, and non governmental organizations and other partners was crucial. There were calls on States which had not yet done so to ratify the Convention and its two Optional Protocols. 39. A number of States described measures and policies taken at national level, including the development of specific legislation, policies and action plans; the obligation to report sexual violence against children; the development of awareness-raising and information campaigns; the creation of special police units dealing with this issue; working with heads of religious communities; the training of people working with minors; the establishment of free help lines; the development of programmes to teach children to protect themselves against the risks of Internet and other new technologies; the use of information technologies to increase awareness on and prevention of sexual crimes; legal provisions allowing children to directly access all State entities to claim the protection of their rights without being accompanied by a legal representative; the establishment of child advocacy centres; allocating funds for victims of sexual violence; criminalization of all forms of violence against children; the increase in penalties against child sex offenders; and the criminalization of sexual abuse of children abroad . Reference was also made to plans of action adopted at regional level. 40. Measures suggested for eliminating violence included: identifying root causes leading to sexual violence against children; devising and implementing feasible preventive strategies; formulating, strengthening and enforcing policies and laws on child protection; sensitising the public to the problem; creating a non-violent society ; promoting positive child-rearing methods; engaging children in prevention and response; and creating an environment in which children were self-confident, self assured and resistant. It was emphasized that coordination across United Nations mandates and between institutions would ensure that sexual violence against children in all its forms and settings was systematically addressed. Children should also be able to press for reparation and should be able to directly address State authorities. 11