A/HRC/43/40 best interests of the child are a primary consideration. States must also develop and monitor minimum standards for organizations providing care. 102. In parallel to such individualized plans, it is of the upmost importance to involve the family, when possible, and the community at large in the recovery and rehabilitation of child victims. A clear understanding of children’s suffering is essential to prevent any discrimination by relatives and the community. 103. Lastly, further efforts should be made to establish comprehensive, rights-based and child-centred care, recovery and reintegration programmes, with a gender perspective, in a full range of laws, policies and services. 2. Investigation and prosecution 104. Successful investigation and prosecution are indispensable in curbing the culture of silence surrounding child sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation and tackling impunity. In addition to the existing gaps in various legal frameworks, weak enforcement or the absence of child-friendly investigation and reporting mechanisms often lead to underreporting of violations. This often results in secondary victimization and discourages child victims to come forward. In many instances, complaints lodged with the police are not duly acted upon, the gathering of compelling evidence is delayed, and investigation and prosecution is stalled, resulting in victims or witnesses withdrawing their complaints. Many cases are dismissed on the grounds that statements by child victims are allegedly inconsistent. 105. Furthermore, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, social workers, the legal profession and other relevant State officials often have limited capacity to address these cases in line with the existing laws and standards due to inadequate training and lack of resources. The front-line social protection actors responsible for the day-to-day identification and reporting of cases often do not have access to adequate support and counselling services and suffer long-term consequences, including post-traumatic stress and burnout. 3. Education and awareness-raising 106. Limited knowledge about the various manifestations of sale and sexual exploitation among government officials, community leaders, children and their families, and society in general remains a serious challenge in addressing the demand factor, improving reporting of cases and preventing abuse. 107. Children should receive concrete information on how to report these crimes and where to receive assistance. They must be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge, including comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education, including on the effects of early marriage and other online and offline malpractices. Without proper education programmes and guidance, children may fail to understand consent and the nature of sexual exploitation and abuse. 4. Child participation 108. Child victims have the right to be heard, including in all administrative and judicial procedures concerning their life and well-being. However, child participation is generally deficient at the national level, and the exercise of this right remains at the discretion of the State officials and is often neglected due to patriarchal social norms and age-related stereotypes. There is also a lack of general understanding of the concept of participation and of children’s evolving capacities, and limited guidance on how to ensure the meaningful participation of children in decision-making on all issues affecting them. In terms of good practice, inspiration can be sought from the involvement of children in the monitoring of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention).70 70 Secretariat of the Lanzarote Committee, “Guidelines for implementation of child participation”. Available at https://rm.coe.int/guidelines-for-implementation-of-child-participation-in-the-2ndmonito/16808a3956. 17