DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - Belgium | Practical Guide Perhaps most significantly, they may lack trust and confidence that their complaints will be believed and fairly assessed; this may be the case particularly in cases of sexual exploitation and abuse which can be associated with stigma, shame and secrecy. There may be an existing sub-culture among the children detained that complaining about abuse by other children is strongly prohibited and they may face reprisals. 6.1. Goals and objectives of complaint mechanisms Children who have been deprived of their liberty have the right to make requests and / or to complain about their conditions, treatment and care through mechanisms that are easily accessible, child-sensitive, effective and safe. Upholding the right to complain is very important for giving a voice to children deprived of their liberty and for ensuring that their other human rights are protected. Such requests and / or complaints may concern issues of daily routine such as provision of adequate food and water and access to recreation. They can also raise concerns about access to education or contact visits, allegations of ill-treatment such as torture, violence, abuse and exploitation by police, staff members or other detained children. Often, many minor complaints can be dealt with efficiently and effectively through informal mechanisms, such as individual or collective oral requests and mediation. However, children also need to be guaranteed access to formal systems of complaint when informal mechanisms have been exhausted or have reached their limits, or to address violations of their rights through a more procedural process. Effective complaints procedures can be seen as part of the treatment of children deprived of their liberty which contributes to reinforcing their respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Both formal and informal complaints mechanisms can ensure that places depriving children of liberty are transparent and accountable for realising the rights of children in their care. They can act as a deterrent to violations of children’s rights, as an early defusing of tensions, assist with reintegration and bring information about serious abuses against children into the public domain. Furthermore, when authorities systematically analyse requests and/or complaints that have been made, this can help them to identify challenges and changes needed in policy, practice and legislation. Facilities depriving children of liberty which have an effective (formal and informal) complaints procedure also give the public confidence that institutions are working to ensure children are aware of their rights, empowered to ask for respect and are being rehabilitated. 148