A/HRC/25/48 7. Detection, care and recovery 82. Care for victims is an essential aspect of the fight against the sale and sexual exploitation of children. It should seek to rehabilitate victims and avoid revictimization by addressing the factors that made them vulnerable. Adequate care involves a continuum of actions, from identification of victims and children at risk, to care centres, justice and social measures. Many countries have created centres providing comprehensive care for victims towards their recovery and reintegration. 83. In Latvia, the Special Rapporteur visited the Ilguciems Prison for women and girls. She praised the methodology employed by the caretakers at this centre, where she witnessed a child-rights approach to the care, rehabilitation and follow-up of the girls. The social rehabilitation programmes implemented include measures to encourage forwardlooking thinking and to prepare the girls for discharge and reintegration into society through acquiring and developing basic skills. 84. In the United States, the Special Rapporteur learnt about the Manhattan Child Advocacy Center, which provides multidisciplinary care in treating cases of physical and sexual abuse, child prostitution and trafficking, with staff and representatives from social services, the judiciary, the police and medical personnel housed under one roof. The services provided include orientation, forensic interviews, client and family advocacy, and medical evaluation with a paediatrician, as well as adequate care and follow-up on cases. 85. During her visit to France, the Special Rapporteur learnt about how child victims of sexual violence are heard immediately following their identification. Several hospitals have created forensic units specializing in hearing children’s testimonies as soon as the child victim is identified. Victims are cared for by a multidisciplinary team of psychologists and medical doctors. 8. Social protection 86. The formulation and implementation of sound social policies that effectively address the root causes of the sale and sexual exploitation of children and ensure the care of victims is critical to preventing and combating the phenomena. The past few years have seen an increased recognition of the fundamental role of families in the protective environment and the importance of policies aimed at supporting them. Most recently, additional attention has also been given to the links between social protection and the protection of children from abuse, violence and exploitation. 87. The 2008 UNICEF Child Protection Strategy emphasizes the need to strengthen families as essential components of national child protection systems.48 The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children emphasize the importance of policies aimed at supporting families in their responsibilities of care by addressing the root causes of children’s separation from their family through a range of multisectoral interventions.49 Most recently, the report of the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda has emphasized the importance of empowering families.50 88. Interventions need to consist of both economic support and social measures and accessible quality services ranging from housing to childcare, psychosocial support and counselling. Family strengthening has positive effects beyond the protection of children 48 49 50 UNICEF Child Protection Strategy (E/ICEF/2008/5/Rev.1). Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, Human Rights Council Resolution 11/7, annex. A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development, Report of the High-Level Panel or Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (2013). Available from www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf. 17