A/HRC/25/46 24. As part of this ongoing collaboration, the Special Representative participated in the Fourth High-level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa, organized by the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission, where she chaired a panel discussion on mainstreaming child protection into mediation processes. Furthermore, the Office of the Special Representative provided technical inputs, and participated in two workshops: one for the development and the other for the validation of a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) strategy and of specific guidelines for child protection in DDR processes. 25. The Special Representative commends the Zero Child Soldier in the Great Lakes Region campaign, which was announced in November 2013, during her visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and has expressed her intention to work closely with its member States to develop specific strategies for the subregion. 26. The Special Representative continued her dialogue with the European Union and visited Brussels in June 2013 to discuss ways to ensure better protection for children affected by armed conflict. During her visit, she stressed the need for the increased application of the European Union Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, and emphasized the importance of the European Union utilizing all the available tools for the protection of children. This includes supporting long-term reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed forces and groups, and the development of training for member States deploying personnel to crisis management operations. She also stressed the human rights and political advocacy role of the European Union in addressing grave child rights violations. 27. The Office of the Special Representative has continued to engage with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The outcome document of the summit meeting of the North Atlantic Council held in Chicago in May 2012 included specific reference to children affected by armed conflict. During a visit to NATO headquarters in June 2013, the Special Representative launched an online pre-deployment child protection training programme. She requested NATO to develop and implement measures to prevent child casualties, along with transparent mechanisms for review and investigation. In November 2012, the NATO Military Committee adopted guidelines to integrate Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) and subsequent resolutions into NATO’s military doctrine, training, and operational planning and conduct, that include quarterly reporting on children and armed conflict, and the appointment of technical focal points. 28. In October 2013, the Special Representative initiated a dialogue with the League of Arab States on child protection concerns. During her visit to Geneva in September 2013, the Special Representative initiated discussions with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on exploring possible avenues of cooperation. Also in Geneva, the Special Representative briefed the African Group of the Human Rights Council on technical assistance in the area of legislation and reintegration for children formerly associated with armed forces and groups. 29. The Special Representative welcomes the support provided by the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of translating and disseminating technical guidance for reporting on children and armed conflict, for French-speaking audiences. V. Ending the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict 30. In 2004, the Security Council, in its resolution 1539, requested parties to conflict to halt the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18, and to develop action plans with the United Nations to separate and release any children associated with armed forces 7