A/HRC/17/46 street are left to their own fate, confronted with situations of labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and even sudden death. He stressed that Government policies were fragmented and poorly resourced, and that it was only through holistic public polices that these conditions could be changed. Behind each child on the street was an abandoned family with no protection. Simultaneous policies of inpatient and outpatient health care (especially reproductive health services) and support for education and reintegration programmes would provide space for street children and their families to redevelop. Himself a survivor of violence and child trafficking on the street, he added that it was very important to work with children in their group, acknowledging that the group is their daily reality. He explained that, once the child’s trust has been won, the first step had been taken in the process of changing and understanding his or her needs, limitations and possibilities. 32. Dialogue was the most relevant educational instrument to promote alternatives for children in the street. He suggested that national quantitative and qualitative assessments of the situation of children be made and that the family be strengthened as the centrepiece of interventions. Professionals should be willing to listen and to believe in the possibility of changing a child’s situation. National plans of coordinated action with guaranteed financial resources should address issues of race, economics and social and cultural situations. 33. The Senior Adviser for Child Protection of UNICEF explained how the Fund, in partnership with Governments and non-governmental organizations, had been working to create a more systematic approach that embraced laws, services, behaviours and practices that minimized children’s susceptibility to risk. The necessary components of a protective environment included changes in social attitudes, customs and practices that allowed children’s rights to be violated and an emphasis on the accountability of Governments to establish the best possible systems for the protection of children, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity or religion. Addressing family separation was often an entry point for strengthening the overall child protection system. Approximately 131 UNICEF country officers were engaged in the protective care of children through programmes ranging from policy development to direct care support. Tools were now in place to map and assess child protection systems and guide responses for system strengthening. She added that Government agencies responsible for child protection systems are often poorly resourced and that child protection may not be viewed as a principle mandate for the Government. This suggests the need for articulation across sectoral policies, dialogue with other formal sector service providers and community groups, as well as common approaches among international partners supporting child protection interventions. 34. The Special Adviser to the Director-General of ILO stated that the international framework on child labour was set out by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the Minimum Age Convention No. 138 (1973) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention No. 182 (1999). To date, 173 Member States had ratified Convention No. 182 and 158 States were party to Convention No. 138. Although working on the street was not deemed to be among the worst forms of child labour as defined by the ILO Conventions, the reality of the problem was more difficult to ascertain. Particular attention should be paid to children on the street to prevent them from falling through the cracks of protection services. There was a great danger that children were seen as perpetrators, rather than as victims, of criminal activity. There was ignorance of the fact that many of them ended up on the street after escaping from forced activities. The response of ILO relied heavily on comprehensive national action plans with relevant authorities and civil society. There was a need for better data to understand the situation and to develop activities for professionals who worked with children. Prevention, withdrawal and rehabilitation were required to combat this problem and specific measures and action plans should be undertaken in each phase. The international community had pledged to eliminate all the worst forms of child labour by 2016. This could not be done without addressing the issue of street children. 10