A/65/219 Accountability and Reconciliation. Critically, the publication outlines in an annex the key principles for children and transitional justice. 48. The key principles consist of overarching considerations for children in transitional justice processes as a whole, as well as specific precepts as related to judicial mechanisms, truth commissions and truth-seeking mechanisms, local, traditional and restorative justice processes, reparations for children and institutional reform. 49. The emphasis on institutional reform introduces a number of new issues such as the importance of working with educational experts and officials, the need to undertake legal reform and the urgency of creating economic opportunities for children and young people. 50. The key principles also address the issue of the appropriate form of accountability for alleged child perpetrators, and alternatives to judicial proceedings for children. They highlight the issue that children may simultaneously be victims, witnesses and alleged perpetrators of violations, but stress that they must be viewed primarily as victims in all circumstances. 51. The overarching considerations for the involvement of children in transitional justice processes are set out in the annex to the present report. IV. Strengthening the child protection role of United Nations peacekeeping and political missions A. Mainstreaming child protection in United Nations peacekeeping and political missions 52. In June 2009, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support adopted a policy directive on mainstreaming the protection, rights and well-being of children affected by armed conflict. This groundbreaking policy reinforces the crucial role of peacekeeping missions in the protection of children. The directive is built around the key operational elements of the Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, in particular resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009). The directive therefore specifies the role of peacekeeping operations in key areas such as monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children, the conduct of dialogue with parties to the conflict for the preparation of time-bound action plans to address grave violations for which they have been cited by the Secretary-General, as well as other responsibilities, such as the provision of regular and comprehensive training for civilian, police and military personnel of peacekeeping operations. 53. It is evident that in its early implementation stages the directive has achieved more purposive and coherent mainstreaming of the children and armed conflict agenda in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and as such has enabled the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to more effectively implement relevant Security Council resolutions. The directive is also contributing to more coordinated action by United Nations partners, as it clearly articulates the responsibilities of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations vis-à-vis child protection actors such as UNICEF, ensuring a clear division of labour and complementarity of action. 10-47421 13