United Nations Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Children in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice A/RES/69/194 (c) To ensure that, in all places of detention, children are separated from adults and girls are separated from boys; (d) To promote good practices in order to strengthen the protection and safety of children living in custody with an incarcerated parent, including consultation with the parents to determine their views regarding their child’s care during the period of custody and the provision of special mother-and-child units or, where parents are detained for violation of immigration laws, separate family units in order to identify their special needs and accordingly provide appropriate protection; (e) To facilitate the assessment and classification of children held in detention facilities in order to identify their special needs and accordingly provide appropriate protection and individualize treatment and interventions, including with respect to the specific needs of girls, and to ensure that there is a sufficient array of facilities to accommodate and adequately protect children of different ages or with differing needs; (f) To ensure that treatment and support is offered to detained children with special needs, including to girls who are pregnant, give birth and/or raise children in detention, and that treatment for mental illness, disabilities, HIV/AIDS and other communicable and non-communicable diseases and drug addiction is offered, and to address the needs of children at risk of committing suicide or other forms of self-harm; (g) To ensure that appropriate care and protection is provided to children accompanying a parent or legal guardian deprived of liberty on any ground, including for a violation of immigration law; (h) To review, update and improve safety and security policies and practices within places of detention to reflect the obligation of the authorities to ensure the safety of children and protect them against all forms of violence, including violence among children; (i) To prevent all forms of discrimination against or ostracism or stigmatization of detained children; (j) To take strict measures to ensure that all alleged incidents of violence, including sexual abuse of children in a place of detention, are immediately reported and independently, promptly and effectively investigated by appropriate authorities and, when well founded, effectively prosecuted. 39. Recognizing also that it is imperative to minimize the risk of violence against children in detention, Member States are urged, as appropriate and while taking into consideration relevant international human rights instruments: (a) To ensure that children in detention and their parents and/or legal guardians are aware of their rights and can access the mechanisms in place to protect those rights, including access to legal aid; (b) To prohibit the use of placement in a dark cell or closed or solitary confinement or any other punishment that may compromise the physical or mental health of a child; (c) To adopt and implement strict policies guiding the use of force and physical restraints on children during their detention; (d) To adopt policies prohibiting the carrying and use of weapons by personnel in any facility where children are detained; 25/29