A/72/275 Care and Development of Children in All Settings. 21 Recognizing the importance of sound legislation and evidence, and of investment in preve ntion and protection measures tailored to the national reality, the Guidelines promote children’s development and well-being and the elimination of violence in all settings. They also address violence among children, such as the risk of bullying; physical, verbal and sexual abuse; and online abuse. 100. In Latin America, an inter-American forum on national child protection systems was held in April 2017, with the participation of the Inter -American Commission on Human Rights and representatives from Governments and civil society. The Forum recognized the important developments promoted in the region to ensure a comprehensive system of protection of children from violence and discrimination, and highlighted the persisting challenges that compromise the rights of vulnerable groups, including indigenous children, children in the early years of childhood, those with disabilities and those affected by migration and refugee situations. Acknowledging the need to promote information-sharing and crossfertilization of experiences between countries in the region, the Forum called for enhanced coordination across all levels of administration, supported by sound policies, institutions and funding; consolidated systems of monitoring and evaluation of public policies; active engagement of local authorities and civil society organizations in implementation efforts; and the creation of formal and permanent platforms to enable the representative participation of children and adolescents in this process. 101. In the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the Institute of Public Policies on Human Rights is currently developing regional guidelines for the promotion of positive discipline and the prevention of violence against children. The guidelines will help to advance implementation of regional commitments, including through the enactment and enforcement of laws to ban and prevent all forms of violence against children, and will help to align implementation with the 2030 Agenda. 102. The Special Representative’s collaboration with the Council of Europe has continued to be crucial in strengthening children’s freedom from violence across the region. The initiatives promoted by the Council of Europe in this area are framed by its Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021), which was developed with the participation of the Special Representative. The Strategy supports national implementation of the 2030 Agenda and is monitored by the Ad Hoc Committee for the Rights of the Child, in which the Special Representative participates. Durin g the first year of the implementation of the Strategy, particular attention was given to the promotion of integrated national strategies for the protection of children from violence, the protection of children’s rights in the digital environment and the prevention of online abuse, and the rights of migrant and refugee children. 103. In May 2017, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers adopted an action plan on protecting refugee and migrant children in Europe for the period 2017 2019 22 with three main pillars: ensuring access to rights and child-friendly procedures; providing effective protection; and enhancing the integration of arriving children. The implementation of the action plan will complement other important activities undertaken by the Ad Hoc Committee for the Rights of the Child, including the drafting of new standards on legal guardianship and age assessment of migrant and refugee children. __________________ 21 22 16/18 http://asean.org/?static_post=asean-guidelines-non-violent-approach-nurture-care-developmentchildren-settings. https://edoc.coe.int/en/index.php?controller=get-file&freeid=7362. 17-13267