A/HRC/16/56 proceedings in camera or allow the presentation of evidence by electronic or other special means; “these measures shall be implemented in the case of a victim of sexual violence or a child who is a victim or a witness75”. The Rome Statute also foresees the establishment of a Victims and Witnesses Unit within the Registry to provide protective measures and security arrangements, counselling and other appropriate assistance. The Unit “shall include staff with expertise in trauma, including trauma related to crimes of sexual violence76”.77 2. Regional standards 11. Significant regional instruments also address this area of concern. The InterAmerican Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, also covering the situation of girls under the age of majority78, calls for fair and effective legal procedures for victims including “protective measures, a timely hearing and effective access to such procedures” (…) “effective access to restitution, reparations or other just and effective remedies”, and specialized services, including shelters [and] counselling services…”.79The Convention applies to physical, sexual and psychological violence, although not to violence against boys, and is in force in all OAS Member States except two.80 12. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child mirrors many of the protective principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the need for legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, from physical or mental injury or abuse, neglect or maltreatment including sexual abuse; and from sexual exploitation. Protective measures include the establishment of special monitoring units to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting referral investigation, treatment, and follow-up of instances of child abuse and neglect. 13. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa presents important provisions for the protection of girls from violence and calls, inter alia, for the establishment of mechanisms and accessible services for effective information, rehabilitation and reparation of victims of violence; for States’ support to initiatives directed at providing women with access to legal services, including legal aid; and requires the provision of appropriate remedies to be “determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or any other competent authority provided for by law81”. 14. The Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse adopted by the Council of Europe in 2007 requires Parties to take “measures to assist victims, in the short and long term, in their physical and psychosocial recovery”82 and to “adopt a protective approach towards victims, ensuring that the investigations and criminal proceedings do not aggravate the trauma experienced by the child and that the 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 26 Article 68 Article 43 paragraph 6 Also relevant are the Rules of Procedure and Evidence adopted by the Assembly of States Parties of the Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Regulations of the Office of the Prosecutor Arts.2 and 9 Art.7(f), 7(g) and 8(d) As at 15 January 2011 (Canada and the United States have not yet ratified). See in particular articles 1 j), 8 and 25 Art. 14(1)