A/HRC/30/42 can mean once more taking part fully in society; for the perpetrator, it can mean acknowledging and assuming responsibility. This transformation can help to avoid cycles whereby “victims become perpetrators”, which perpetuate cycles of mass violations. 57 102. While arguing for the anchoring of trauma counselling as a crucial element of a State policy aimed at guaranteeing non-recurrence, the Special Rapporteur warns against using psychosocial support to “water down” the importance of institutional reform. Instead, trauma counselling and civil society efforts should be considered as a “trigger-down mechanism” to ensure that institutional reform becomes truly effective at the individual level. VII. Observations and recommendations 103. The Special Rapporteur calls for more focused attention to the challenges arising in areas of weak governance for the effective satisfaction of rights and in particular to the challenges for protecting the rights of marginalized groups and individuals. Significantly more work needs to be done normatively and practically in order to protect the rights of individuals in such situations, including civilians trapped in the cross-fire of a conflict. Institutional level 104. The Special Rapporteur calls upon States to take the necessary measures, in the aftermath of conflict and/or repression, to enable the registration of births and give access to all to gain or regain their legal identity; and to increase access to registration mechanisms, including through mobile registration units, accessible at the local and community levels, with simplified procedures that are reflective of the circumstances people face, for instance after displacement and the fragmentation of families. Measures need to be taken to ensure access for all, without discrimination, to a fully functional civil registration system that is universal, compulsory, permanent, continuous and cost-free, that ensures the confidentiality of personal data and is culturally sensitive, especially in relation to religious or cultural circumstances regarding minorities and indigenous groups. 105. He also calls upon States to adopt a non-recurrence policy that should include the ratification of relevant treaties, avoiding or withdrawing reservations that may defeat the purpose of the treaty. Ratification should be followed by a strategy for incorporating the provisions effectively into domestic law and their implementation. States should consider prioritizing the ratification of targeted treaties that pertain to gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, including torture, sexual and gender-based violence, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, institutionalized discrimination, forced displacement and exile, and crimes amounting to crimes against humanity, war crimes and 57 See S. Servaes and N. Birtsch, “Engaging with victims and perpetrators in transitional justice and peace building processes”, workshop report published by Working Group on Development and Peace (FriEnt) and the Centre for Peacebuilding (KOFF) (October 2008). Available from www.frient.de/nc/en/publications-service/documents/library/engaging-with-victims-and-perpetratorsin-transitional-justice-and-peace-building-processes.html. 23