A/70/162 IV. Addressing grave violations by non-State armed groups 34. The Special Representative has consistently sought to engage with all parties to conflict, including non-State armed groups, which continue to constitute the majority of parties (49 of the 57 parties) listed in the most recent annual report of the SecretaryGeneral on children and armed conflict for grave violations against children. It is critical that any efforts to advance the children and armed conflict agenda seek to engage with this diverse group of actors. To that end, a multifaceted approach is necessary, taking into consideration the different operational environments. 35. The majority of extremist groups have no interest in engaging with national and international actors, which limits the possibilities to address violations and protect children. The identification of entry points to apply political and financial pressure through the international community, including Member States, is therefore a vital first step. International instruments such as sanctions are another avenue for addressing violations committed against children by extremist groups. 36. In that context, it is crucial to interact with non-State armed groups that are willing to engage on the issue of child protection and to convince them to fulfil their obligations under international law. The Special Representative requests that the Governments concerned facilitate cooperation between the United Nations and those non-State armed groups, in accordance with the principle outlined in Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) that it does not prejudge their legal status. 37. In many instances, engagement with non-State armed groups has led to commitments and actions by those groups to end violations, in particular child recruitment within their ranks, and some have signed action plans with the United Nations. In the reporting period, progress was achieved with the Cobra faction of the South Sudan Democratic Army, which released more than 1,700 children. That followed a meeting between the Special Representative and the leader of the Cobra Faction, David Yau Yau, during the Special Representative’s visit to South Sudan in June 2014, and further efforts in the field by UNICEF. More recently, in May 2015, the Special Representative participated in consultations in Austria on children and armed conflict with representatives of the Justice and Equa lity Movement, the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid and the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi, which are listed in the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict for the recruitment and use of children in the Sudan. Thanks to joint efforts with the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the leaders of the three groups signed a joint statement on the situation of children in Darfur, in which they accepted responsibility for the protection of children and pledged to end and prevent grave violations against them. During her visit to Myanmar in July 2015, the Special Representative entered into dialogue with the Kachin Independence Army, the Karen National Liberation Army and the Karenni Army, which are listed for engaging in the recruitment and use of children. She had productive discussions with the groups with regard to action plans to end and prevent child recruitment and use and other grave violations. Entry points in mediation and peace processes with non-State armed groups 38. Political dialogue, and peace and ceasefire negotiations represent unique opportunities to reach out to parties to conflict, particularly non -State armed groups, 15-12221 9/17