A/HRC/16/56 III. A. Conclusions and recommendations Conclusions 104. Important international and regional human rights standards provide a sound framework for the development of strong, safe and effective counselling, reporting and complaint mechanisms to address incidents of violence against children. As agreed upon at the Third World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, these mechanisms should be set up in all countries by 2013. 105. At the national level, significant efforts have been undertaken, both by Governments, which have the leading responsibility for child protection, and by other key stakeholders, including independent human rights institutions for children, civil society and community-based organizations. Yet, these efforts remain fragmented and insufficient to secure children’s protection from violence. Urgent steps are needed to establish and strengthen these mechanisms in conformity with relevant international human rights instruments and political commitments undertaken by States in this area. These measures are critical to develop robust child protection systems in which violence is effectively addressed, and children’s dignity and fundamental rights are respected. 106. As confirmed by the analysis conducted for the present report, too often, available mechanisms lack a basis in law and have no clear definition of their mandate, role and responsibilities. National plans of action on children, or specifically on violence against children, address these mechanisms in a sporadic manner and lack the necessary resources to ensure their timely and effective intervention. Evaluation of these mechanisms is rare, and so is the assessment of the effectiveness of follow-up measures, or of the impact on children of decisions taken in response to violence. B. Guiding principles 107. It is urgent to develop effective, child-sensitive counselling, reporting and complaint mechanisms, universally available to and accessible by all children, without discrimination of any kind. 108. These mechanisms are a core component of the national child protection system, and should be anchored in child-rights laws and policies, supported by integrated services for children, and pursued with initiatives to change social norms, attitudes, behaviours and practices that condone violence. It is critical to address the root causes of tolerance of violence against children, reasons for underreporting, and barriers for accessing available services. 109. Children need to feel empowered, to obtain the required information about their rights to access and to make effective use of these mechanisms; they need to feel reassured that they will be listened to in an ethical, safe and confidential manner, that their testimonies will not be disclosed or misused, and that their protection will not be put at risk. Children’s participation in these efforts should be secured, including in the design and development of these mechanisms. 110. Counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms should, at a minimum: (a) Be established by law and in conformity with international human rights instruments, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for governmental departments, and well-defined standards for the actions of other institutions, services and facilities responsible for the care or protection of children; 21