A/65/219 expression of commitment to protect children in the crafting of mandates has not yet, however, consistently translated into budgeting processes and mission staffing. The role of the General Assembly is critical in this regard, particularly in the context of the work of the Fifth Committee, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. B. Child protection and transition to peacebuilding 60. Another priority and challenge is to ensure that a level of child protection expertise is maintained as peacekeeping operations are drawn down and restructured in transition to peacebuilding configurations. During that phase, it remains critical that the representatives of the Secretary-General retain adequate advisory capacity on child protection within their offices. In particular, child protection advisers will be responsible for ensuring ongoing monitoring and verification of child protection action plans with parties to conflict, as well as maintenance of the cycle of reporting to Member States on implementation of children and armed conflict resolutions and the recommendations of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, which often remain relevant and in effect through the transition to post-conflict peace consolidation and peacebuilding. 61. Member States are urged to ensure that child protection concerns, including support for reintegration efforts and youth employment, are also explicitly reflected in relevant peacebuilding mandates and in the work of the Peacebuilding Commission through its country configurations. C. Child protection in mediation, peace processes and agreements 62. Experience has shown that long-term sustainability of peace also depends on addressing specific needs of children in peace mediation processes and resultant agreements. Not to do so carries the risk of children ultimately becoming “spoilers” into the future. 63. One of the key challenges is to overturn the inclination, including of many mediators, that broader political considerations and dynamics may be adversely affected or compromised by child protection issues surfacing at negotiating tables. There is often a reticence to consider the protection of children as a “high line” priority on an equal footing with considerations of achieving or maintaining ceasefires, for instance. Yet, such issues as the immediate cessation of grave violations against children and the unconditional release of all children associated with fighting forces should be seen as fundamental to any ceasefire agreement. Continued violations such as child recruitment, or unwillingness to identify and release children already in fighting forces, must be formally stipulated as violations of ceasefire agreements by parties to a conflict. 64. Other specific issues that should be reflected as integral provisions of peace agreements themselves may include terms for child disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, care of internally displaced children, participation of children in transitional justice frameworks, and specific attention and resources for children in recovery and reconstruction phases. 10-47421 15

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