A/HRC/25/48 accordance with the provisions of the relevant international instruments and awarded special protection as juveniles.43 4. Combating impunity 69. Combating impunity for perpetrators of the sale and sexual exploitation of children is a major challenge. When laws — even where they exist — are not enforced, organized crime is likely to flourish and social tolerance for exploitation is likely to increase. Impunity stems from limited reporting of violations due to a lack of trust in the system and the nature of the crime, which can be seen as shameful and stigmatizing for victims within their communities. 70. Impunity is the result of weak law enforcement due to a lack of capacity or corruption. It is also due to the complexity of the criminal networks involved, the tools they use and their transnational nature. 71. In several instances, the Special Rapporteur has voiced her concern at the culture of impunity that prevails in numerous contexts. In order to address impunity, including the implicit norms that undermine necessary actions against offenders, governance systems need to be strengthened. Links between governance systems and development have received increased attention lately, particularly in the context of the formulation of a post2015 development agenda. 5. Child-sensitive complaint and reporting mechanisms 72. In a joint report, the Special Rapporteur and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children highlighted the numerous initiatives undertaken at the national level to promote accessible and child-sensitive counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms for child rights violations, including sexual abuse and exploitation.44 73. Child helplines have developed significantly over the past decade. Helplines are tollfree telephone numbers that can be called by victims or others to seek help and information. Membership of Child Helpline International, the federation of child helplines worldwide, has grown from 49 members in 46 countries at its creation in 2003 to 173 members in 142 countries as of October 2012.45 Data from Child Helpline International shows that in Europe in 2005, only 8 per cent of contacts to helplines involved a visit to the website while in 2012, that figure had reached 52 per cent.46 74. Independent human rights institutions for children play an important role in the protection of children from sale and sexual exploitation. For the most part, they have the power to consider individual complaints, carry out investigations and make both individual and policy recommendations to address relevant issues. The development of these institutions across regions has been unfolding since 1989 and has accelerated since the mid- 43 44 45 46 See the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), and the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines). See the joint report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children on accessible and child-sensitive counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms (A/HRC/16/56). See www.childhelplineinternational.org. Child Helpline International, Voices from Young Europe (2013). Available from www.childhelplineinternational.org/media/60261/europe_10_year_data_publication_final.pdf. 15