A/HRC/25/46 prosecute those subject to their jurisdiction that are responsible for such crimes. The Special Representative also hopes that the Human Rights Council will address the growing number of cases of boys subjected to sexual violence in armed conflict. 19. Cognizant of the disproportionate effect of arms transfers in armed conflicts on the human rights of children, including the increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence against children, the Special Representative appreciates the adoption of Human Rights Council resolution 24/35. The Special Representative also welcomes the adoption of resolution 22/24 on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic and strongly supports the urgent call on all parties to refrain from recruiting and involving children in the conduct of hostilities. 20. The Special Representative echoes the condemnation of all serious human rights violations perpetrated against civilian populations, including rape and other forms of sexual violence and the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, included in resolutions 24/27, 24/30, 24/32 and 24/34, which also call for technical assistance and capacitybuilding for human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Yemen and the Central African Republic. She further wishes to highlight the call to armed groups to release children from their ranks, and urges all parties to the conflicts to cooperate with the United Nations and other child protection actors to assist children in reintegrating into their communities. IV. Partnership with regional and intergovernmental organizations 21. As a result of the increasing prevalence of conflicts with a regional dimension, regional and subregional organizations have an ever-greater role to play in conflict prevention, mediation and peacekeeping. As such, there is a clear need to strengthen partnerships in order to broaden the mainstreaming of child protection. 22. Working in partnership has been a priority of the Special Representative from the outset of her tenure, and continues to be one of the key strategies in her effort to further advance the children and armed conflict agenda. 23. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child prohibits the recruitment of children by armed forces and groups, and specifically identifies the need to respect international humanitarian law with regard to children during armed conflicts. The Charter defines children as being under 18 years of age, and was the first regional instrument to protect children’s rights. With a view to building on and formalizing its ongoing collaboration with the African Union, the Office of Special Representative signed a declaration of intent with the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission, on 17 September 2013. This declaration of intent sets out joint priorities to be achieved in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to enhance the mainstreaming of child protection within African Union policies and operations. The declaration establishes collaboration in the following specific areas: (a) the development of a strategy to mainstream child protection concerns in African Union activities; (b) the institutionalization of policies and procedures on child protection in accordance with regional and international standards, including the development of guidelines and training; (c) dedicated child-protection capacity within the Peace and Security Department; and (d) the development of a joint programme of work to further the implementation of the activities set out in the declaration. In addition, UNICEF, with support from the Office of the Special Representative, is in the process of assisting the African Union’s Peace and Security Department with the recruitment of a child-protection advisor, who will serve as the focal point for the joint activities set out in the declaration. 6