A/HRC/43/40/Add.1 multiple oversight mechanisms, overlapping responsibilities and ambiguous roles, child protection efforts are often not coordinated. A relatively small number of social services are monitored, and their focus is mostly on the alignment of administrative procedures. 41. The Special Rapporteur was informed that issues persisted regarding the functioning of the coordination mechanism, owing to the lack of multidisciplinary teams and the fact that the mechanism could be triggered by the child protection units only, which were severely underfunded and understaffed with high staff turnover and instances of burnout. Furthermore, the staff of the child protection units lack expertise to assess and identify cases of sexual abuse and exploitation. It is reported that the mechanism is not triggered every time there is a case of violence, its implementation varies across regions and there are gaps in reporting and the way in which the composition and participation of the main stakeholders is defined and implemented. According to UNICEF, there is an overall lack of clarity on the cross-sectoral nature of the child protection system and its main functions and responsibilities for the coordination of policies, child protection and provision of care and services.18 The Special Rapporteur was told that as of 2020, this mechanism would become legally binding. 42. The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was established by virtue of the Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Act. It is responsible for the implementation of the national policy and strategy on combating trafficking in human beings, and protects, assists and reintegrates victims of trafficking. While the State Agency for Child Protection plays a coordinating role in the implementation of national measures against trafficking in children, the National Commission and its local representatives play a central role in the national coordination mechanism for the referral, care and protection of unaccompanied children and child victims of trafficking repatriated to Bulgaria. Cases are usually taken up first by border police officers, who inform the local social assistance directorate and the relevant child protection unit. 43. Regarding an independent child rights monitoring mechanism, in 2016, following the amendment to the Ombudsman Act, a child rights directorate was established consisting of two persons. There is still no designated deputy ombudsman responsible for children. The staff members lack training and capacity to proactively monitor and follow up on cases. Due to reduced budget for a second consecutive year, the number of the monitoring visits has decreased. 44. The Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre, established in 2005, works for the protection and empowerment of children and young people online by raising awareness, providing training and reporting cases of online sexual abuse and exploitation of minors. C. National policies, strategies and programmes 45. The National Programme for the Prevention of Violence against and Abuse of Children (2017–2020) and the action plan for its implementation (2017–2018) prioritize the prevention of all forms of violence against children, including sexual violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, by enhancing the capacity of professionals and improving inter-institutional cooperation and coordination. The national helpline for children (116 111), managed by the State Agency for Child Protection and operated by the Animus Association Foundation, provides children with 24-hour toll-free access. However, there is no specialized counselling or services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children. A non-governmental organization (NGO) called the Single Step Foundation has opened a chat service for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex teenagers and is hoping to launch a helpline and a community centre, but there is no information about the activities’ outcome, referral procedures or sustainability. 46. The National Strategy for the Child (2008–2018) and its successor draft strategy (2019–2030) are aimed at improving coordination, and addresses the protection of children from all forms of violence and exploitation as a separate priority. The new strategy is 18 10 UNICEF, Analysis of the Child Protection System in Bulgaria (forthcoming).