A/70/162 and to advocate for the protection of children. Children, who often form such a large proportion of populations in conflict situations, bear the brunt of conflict; the early consideration of their protection needs in discussions and negotiations is therefore important. 39. Engagement with parties to conflict on issues such as the separation, release and handover of children can provide a starting point in discussions and offer a unique common denominator for parties in otherwise difficult or protracted negotiations. Moreover, the inclusion of child protection provisions in ceasefire and peace agreements helps in anticipating and planning resource requirements for the reintegration of children. 40. In a positive development, many Member States acknowledged those aspects during an open debate of the Security Council on the theme of protecting children from non-State armed groups, hosted by France in March 2015. Recommendations made during the debate were for a more systematic inclusion of child protection provisions in all peace and ceasefire agreements, including those relating to the unconditional release and reintegration of children. The recommendations were collected in a non-paper shared by France with the Secretary-General in June 2015 (A/69/918-S/2015/372, annex). Some Member States also requested that a guidance note for mediators and special envoys be developed, which the Office of the Special Representative stands ready to support. 41. In that spirit, during the reporting period the Special Representative communicated with the international mediators of the inter -Malian dialogue hosted by Algeria. She advocated for the integration of key child protection provisions in the final peace agreement, particularly as part of the security arrangements and on aspects relating to justice, reconciliation and accountability. In particular, she highlighted critical aspects of child protection for the separation, release and reintegration of children associated with the Malian armed groups involved in the dialogue and called for stronger wording in the accountability section. Although the final wording still lacked critical aspects on child protection, awareness was raised and advocacy efforts continued. Engagement in the peace process complemented efforts of United Nations child protection actors on the ground to engage with some non-State armed groups, resulting in the signing of a local command order to stop and prevent all grave violations by the joint troops of the Mouvement na tional de libération de l’Azawad and the Mouvement arabe de l’Azawad in September 2014. 42. On 5 and 6 May 2015, upon the invitation of the Government of Colombia and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia — Ejército del Pueblo, the Special Representative travelled to Havana to engage with parties to the Colombian peace process. The peace talks, which were facilitated by Cuba and Norway, were launched in August 2012 with the aim of ending nearly five decades of conflict. Following sustained advocacy by the Special Representative, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, the negotiating parties have committed to address children’s issues as a confidence-building measure. Discussions are under way to take further steps to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children, as well as to release and reintegrate children currently associated with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia — Ejército del Pueblo. In that regard, the Special Representative welcomes the announcement in June 2015 of the release of children under 15 years of age by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de 10/17 15-12221