A/HRC/12/42 page 13 cannot make immediate reports and secure medical certificates. In some instances, complaints are made long after the incident occurred, raising question as to whether the prosecution would be able to obtain sufficient evidence to support alleged rape charges. 21. The Government, with United Nations support, continues to implement the national plan of action on gender-based violence and in this regard, there have been some significant developments. A special court with exclusive original jurisdiction over the crimes of rape and other sexual offences24 was formally opened on 3 December 2008 and commenced hearings during the 2009 February court term. A sexual and gender-based violence crimes unit with specially trained staff has been established under the Ministry of Justice. Furthermore, a prosecution handbook on sexual and gender-based violence and a medical report form to be submitted as evidence in a rape trial were developed. Fifty health-care personnel received training on completing the medical report form for survivors of such violence. Liberia also submitted its first report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.25 C. Children’s rights 22. Extreme levels of poverty, and a high illiteracy rate26 coupled with limited livelihood and economic opportunities have made children in post-conflict Liberia vulnerable to all forms of exploitation, as they are also often expected to contribute to household incomes. Children of school age are still involved in illegal mining activities, domestic labour, working as hawkers and as commercial sex workers. Along the border areas children also often cross into neighbouring countries to perform paid manual labour. This movement of children also raises concern about child trafficking given that Liberia’s land borders are porous and the regular crossing points are inadequately staffed by immigration officers. 23. Reports of child neglect and severe cases of violence against children within the community, in the family, schools and orphanages remain common. There is no effective social assistance mechanism to provide protection for children who are victims of abuse or who have been neglected. Few safe homes exist in Liberia to receive neglected or severely abused children. These are mostly found in Montserrado County and are overstretched, making it impossible for such institutions to take up all the cases presented to them. As a result, neglected and abused children sometimes end up in the hands of “good Samaritans”, some of whom are ill-intentioned, in orphanages, or are often sent back to the very homes where they were abused. 24 Referred to as Criminal Court E of the First Judicial Circuit Court, Montserrado County, and established by an act of parliament in September 2008. 25 See combined initial, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth periodic reports of Liberia, CEDAW/C/LBR/6. 26 Sixty-eight per cent of children and young people are illiterate (81 per cent of young females are illiterate), see Poverty Reduction Strategy, p. 185. Adult (15+ years) literacy rates are at 74 per cent in the urban areas and 45 per cent in the rural areas - see table 3.4, Poverty Reduction Strategy, p. 32.