A/HRC/43/51/Add.2 2016, the Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned that these positive improvements have now lost all meaning. He urges the Government to repeal these amendments. 49. Until recently, Mongolia had an independent marshal service and a security protection unit, created to protect victims and witnesses of crimes during criminal proceedings. The work of that office was very much praised by many interlocutors during the visit, but the programme was discontinued in 2016 for budgetary reasons. Most of the functions previously undertaken by the marshal service have now been transferred to the Central Police Department but no additional means, resources or training have been provided to the police. The Special Rapporteur believes the restoration of an independent body in charge of victim and witness protection would prove extremely useful in ensuring justice and remedies. G. 1. Specific groups of human rights defenders at risk Children and young people as human rights defenders 50. According to the various testimonies received during the visit, many children in Mongolia face violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. In this context, children human rights defenders have an essential role to play in exposing abuses and ensuring better conditions for children and young people. However, several interlocutors who met with the Special Rapporteur reported that the majority of young people were not familiar with the concept of human rights defenders and did not identify themselves as such. Children civically engaged in denouncing child abuse, environment pollution or human rights violations with whom the Special Rapporteur spoke highlighted that children human rights defenders are too often being questioned, not being taken seriously and sometimes even blamed and penalized by teachers or relatives when addressing these issues. 51. The Special Rapporteur believes the Day of General Discussion on the protection and empowerment of children as human rights defenders, organized by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2018, and its follow-up meeting from June 2019, provide a solid basis for actions to support the voice of children defenders. He encourages Mongolia to do more to stimulate children’s agency and ensure a suitable children-driven approach to address today and tomorrow’s challenges. 2. Women human rights defenders 52. The situation of women human rights defenders in Mongolia does not differ from the trend that exists in other parts of the world. In essence, women human rights defenders face the same risks as their male counterparts but they are also exposed to gender-specific threats. In other words, they face additional and different threats that are shaped by entrenched gender stereotypes and deeply held ideas about who they are and how they should behave. Women are also attacked for promoting and protecting human rights because of their identity and the nature of their work. 53. The Special Rapporteur encourages States to implement the recommendations contained in his thematic report on women human rights defenders presented to the Human Rights Council in 2019 (A/HRC/40/60). In the report, he underscores the need to address the systemic and structural discrimination, sexism and violence that women and girls in general, and women defenders in particular, experience, especially in online spaces. He encourages the Government of Mongolia to prioritize the equal and meaningful participation of women human rights defenders at every level and in every institution in society. Noting that attacks against women often take place on social media, he highlights the need to ensure safe spaces for women both online and offline (see A/HRC/38/47). He further encourages the promotion and dissemination of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and General Assembly resolution 68/181, which recognizes the important role of women defenders who work in defence of women’s rights or on gender equality. 12