Recognizing that partnership between Governments, international organizations and all sectors of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, is important to realizing the rights of the child, Stressing the importance of integrating child-related issues into the work of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance to be held in the year 2001, I. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (E/CN.4/2000/70); 2. Urges once again those States that have not yet done so to positively consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, having in mind the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; 3. Welcomes the unprecedented number of States (191) that have ratified or acceded to the Convention, as an indication of the universal commitment to the rights of the child; 4. Calls upon States parties to implement the Convention fully and to ensure that the rights set forth in the Convention are respected without discrimination of any kind, that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration in all actions concerning children, and that children are able to express their opinions on matters affecting them and that these opinions are listened to and given due weight; 5. Also calls upon States parties to assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child; 6. Urges States parties to withdraw reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider reviewing other reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 7. Calls upon States parties: (a) To accept, as a matter of priority, the amendment to paragraph 2, article 43, of the Convention; (b) To comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as to take into account the recommendations made by the Committee in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee; 8. Welcomes the role of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in examining the progress made by States parties in implementing the obligations undertaken in the Convention, and in providing recommendations to States parties on its implementation and, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in creating awareness of the principles and provisions of the Convention; 9. Calls upon States parties to ensure, when electing the members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with article 43 of the Convention, that the members are of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field covered by the Convention, serving in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, as well as to the principal legal systems; 10. Also calls upon States to strengthen efforts to improve national systems for the collection of comprehensive and disaggregated data, including gender-specific data, for all areas covered by the Convention; 11. Reaffirms the importance of ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for professional groups working with and for children, inter alia, specialized judges, law enforcement officials, page 3