A/HRC/27/25 however, if society did not support the reforms, very difficult situations, backlashes and back-stepping would be the result. There was not enough support by the media, and there were also other issues, such as the security of citizens and violence, that were not appropriately shown. There was a need to work hand-in-hand with civil society, and for everyone to work together to support the efforts of the State. Strengthening families and communities would prevent problems from arising, and assist in protecting children. The recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child had to be heeded and plans of action to implement them had to be considered. She also highlighted the use of new technologies in ensuring the enjoyment of the right of the child to be heard. 24. In her concluding remarks, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General highlighted the importance of active child participation in the post-2015 development agenda, including child rights ambassadors to put the issue of access to justice at the centre of the discussion. Responding to a question concerning mechanisms for reporting domestic violence and abuse, she suggested that the potential of schools and health centres should never be ignored, and emphasized the importance of access to professionals who were well trained and could refer cases to the system without children having to go directly to court themselves. Access to justice was important when a violation had taken place, but also has an impact before this. Children would always be frightened if they did not understand that there was a system ready to protect and assist them. The main impact of the third Optional Protocol would not be the number of complaints but its impact at the national level and the better protection of children’s rights domestically. This would not be achieved if children were unaware of the Protocol: what it was, how it could be used, and how they could have access to institutions. The real indicator of progress would be the most vulnerable children, and ensuring their protection on an equal basis. III. Empowering children to claim their rights A. Statements by panellists 25. The afternoon session focused on the effect of child empowerment on using and claiming their rights. The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Laura Dupuy Lasserre, moderated the panel. Presentations were made by the Director-General of the International Development Law Organisation, Irene Khan; the representative of Paralegal Committees of Nepal, Maja Bhandari; the Programme Development Director of Penal Reform International, Nikhil Roy; the President of the International Catholic Child Bureau (Mali), Abraham Bengaly; and the French Children’s Defender, Ombudsman for Children and Deputy Ombudsman of France, Marie Derain. 26. Ms. Khan acknowledged that access to justice was a complex and multifaceted issue that concerned procedural and substantive justice. It was particularly crucial for children, who had no vote and no voice in policymaking or in the allocation of resources. Access to justice was often difficult because of poor or inadequate laws, weak institutions and lack of resources; but the failure to listen to children, and the poor understanding of the social, cultural and economic context in which they lived, also contributed. Access to justice implied understanding justice from a child’s perspective. Research had showed that, while adults saw justice in terms of formal, administrative or judicial processes, for children it was much broader, and concerned a whole range of decisions that affected them, including questions of family, health, immigration and identity. 27. Ms. Khan advocated for both top-down and bottom-up approaches. Institutions needed to be strengthened, but children and their families also had to be empowered and 8