A/HRC/27/25 agenda to draw attention to the issue of access to justice, in particular concerning data collection. In relation to the provision of information to children, Ms. Khan recognized that children did not always feel confident about talking to institutions and officials, and often looked to those with whom they had a familiar relationship to obtain information. Information designed for children, by children, would have a greater impact, and there was a need to be talking to children about how they would like information to be provided. 37. In conclusion, Ms. Khan stressed the importance of capacity-building, and the development of State institutions and service providers to provide support for children in their access to justice. Customary and informal justice systems were often more accessible to children, especially those living in poverty; it was therefore necessary to engage more with these systems and ensure that they met international standards. 38. Ms. Bhandari highlighted the immense contribution made by paralegal committees in increasing access to justice for women and children in rural Nepal. These workers were on the frontline of making sure that people were aware of their rights, helping them demand access to justice, and making institutions more accountable. She noted that the task was a large one, and urged States for their support. 39. Mr. Roy urged the use of prevention strategies, especially those involving community-based interventions that allowed social workers and counsellors to work with children at an early stage. He pointed out that UNICEF and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had produced a set of indicators to help to collect data on issues relating to justice, and indicated that they should be more widely known and used. With regard to capacity-building and training, he stated that e-courses were being piloted that could reach a wider audience than ever before. Children were now using social media in a way that was unthinkable a few years earlier, and there was a need to be able to engage with children where they were already talking and working. 40. Mr. Roy set out several measures that would help children gain access to justice and increase the effectiveness and fairness of justice systems. They included increasing the minimum age of criminal offences and abolishing status offences; eliminating inhuman sentencing, such as the death penalty, life imprisonment, solitary confinement and the beating of children in the criminal justice system; increasing the range of non-custodial sentences and developing restorative-based justice; strengthening independent monitoring mechanisms; and investing in rehabilitation and reintegration programmes. 41. Mr. Bengaly discussed the role of informal and traditional justice, and the difficulty of reconciling social and cultural traditions with the fundamental principles contained in international instruments. In this respect, he referred to the importance of raising awareness among community leaders and traditional communicators who were involved in seeking solutions for children. Mediation and conciliation should be the priority, and restorative justice was vital to ensure that the child could reintegrate into his or her family and community. Mr. Bengaly recognized the need to strengthen legal and judicial aid to ensure access to justice, and the importance of capacitybuilding for all stakeholders to create a protective environment for children. 42. Ms. Derain acknowledged the problem of data collection, noting that it was unclear in France how many children were involved in divorce proceedings, or how many of them were interviewed by a judge. Children should be aware of their right to speak to a judge and to raise any issue they wished. She proposed that when children were involved in court proceedings, special brochures and child-friendly materials 11