A/HRC/16/56 Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse requires States parties to ensure that the rules of confidentiality of information imposed on professionals who work with children do not constitute an obstacle to their reporting to child protection services; and to encourage “any person who knows about or suspects, in good faith, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse of children to report these facts to the competent services” (art. 12, paras. 1 and 2). 65. The authors of the present report consider that rules that protect the identity of professionals and private individuals who, in good faith, bring cases of violence against children to the attention of the competent authorities should be enacted into law, with respect to all forms of violence against children. 4. Interdisciplinary teams 66. In a growing number of countries, interdisciplinary teams respond to complaints and reports of violence against children. They help maintain the credibility and reliability of the child’s testimony, while securing children’s well-being and safety throughout the case. They limit the number of interviews the child may be subject to, and the risks that may be associated with this process. Some good practices are described here. 67. The Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) were introduced as part of a strategy by South Africa to address sexual violence against women and children. A TCC is a one-stop shop where victims are provided with comprehensive services such as counselling, interviews, medical examination, court preparation and investigation in a holistic, integrated and victim-friendly manner. Through ongoing coordination with relevant stakeholders, including police, health-care professionals, prosecutors, social workers and NGOs, the ultimate goal of the TCC is to address the social and medical needs of the victim, reduce secondary victimization, improve conviction rates and reduce the lead time for the finalization of cases. The Thuthuzela Information Management System enables TCCs to become proactive, to test emerging models for efficiency and effectiveness, to develop corrective and rehabilitative offender programmes and to strive for integration rather than only punishment. 68. In Iceland and Sweden, Barnahus (“Children’s Houses”) have been established to provide children with assistance while also obtaining evidence that can be used in legal proceedings. Interviews with child victims of violence are held in a child-friendly environment, avoiding multiple interviews, enhancing the value of the evidence obtained and providing therapy and support. The model was adapted from the United States, where some 600 Children’s Advocacy Centers exist. With specially trained psychologists and social workers, the centres operate under a board composed of representatives of the relevant agencies, including the police, local hospital and social work authority. A 2008 evaluation of Swedish Barnahus found that “the position of the child in the legal process was bolstered and the child’s perspective is considered in a higher degree than before. An increasing number of interviews and medical examinations took place and the children have been given better treatment and care in the acute crisis.” 45 69. Recognizing the invisibility of cases of violence and sexual violence against children, and the critical difficulties faced by victims in accessing justice, the Supreme Court of Argentina established in 2008 an Office of Domestic Violence. The Office operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Cases reported, including 28 per cent by children, involved incidents of physical violence (67 per cent), sexual violence (13 per cent) and psychological violence (90 per cent). Children are received in a child-friendly room, 45 Child Rights in the Union (note 7 above), citing K. Åström and A. Rejmer, p. 127. 15