A/HRC/25/48 2000s, according to data from UNICEF which found that, as of 2012, over 200 independent institutions were operating in over 70 countries.47 75. During her country visits, the Special Rapporteur has become aware of good practices in this area. For example, in Guatemala municipal child protection boards (Juntas Municipales de Protección a la Niñez y Adolescencia), under the Ombudsman’s Office, receive and register complaints on child rights violations, direct such complaints to the relevant authorities and raise awareness on child rights, among other activities. Staffed by trained volunteers, these boards aim to address the absence or weakness of the judiciary in some municipalities and resolve conflicts that do not require judicial intervention. 76. In Mauritius, the Special Rapporteur acknowledged the work of the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, which has a range of competencies, including making proposals on laws and policies, advising the Government and relevant authorities on childcare, and receiving and investigating cases of child rights violations. It strongly promotes a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach. 77. In Senegal, the Special Rapporteur has learnt about the impressive consultation work carried out by the Technical Monitoring Committee in Mbour and the approach its members have chosen to adopt to children’s rights. The Committee meets every month to consider cases of child trafficking, child labour, abuse and sexual exploitation and takes the necessary action. Where required, help is provided to find a lawyer for children in conflict with the law. 78. However, for the most part, complaint mechanisms still do not provide adequate protection for children. They are frequently unavailable or difficult to access, particularly for vulnerable children. Where they do exist, they often lack adequate resources and their staff often lack the skills needed to offer children adequate protection. 79. Children may lack information on the existence of these mechanisms and how to access them. They may not trust the mechanisms and may fear stigmatization, public exposure and reprisals. They may feel that they will not be listened to and believed. These issues are particularly challenging in cases of sexual exploitation, which are deeply taboo and often committed by people in children’s immediate environment. 6. Intersectoral coordination 80. The multidimensional nature of the sale and sexual exploitation of children requires significant coordination among the various actors involved. Coordinating bodies provide an important tool to ensure the coherence and sustainability of coordination efforts. They need to include various parts of the relevant Government in preventing and responding to the crime. They also need to involve relevant stakeholders in civil society and the private sector. 81. In the framework of her official visit to Honduras, for instance, the Special Rapporteur welcomed the establishment of the Inter-Agency Commission to Combat the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, which is responsible for ensuring the implementation of legal and administrative measures to combat commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. 47 16 UNICEF, Championing Children’s Rights: A global study of independent human rights institutions for children — summary report (2012). Available from www.unicefirc.org/publications/pdf/championing2_eng.pdf.