A/66/256 mechanisms, which can include truth-seeking and restorative approaches, can provide the cathartic effect required for reconciliation and are appropriate for child perpetrators who, as children, should be spared from prosecution. The recently passed Victims Law in Colombia, for example, is a laudable initiative aiming at ensuring that child victims of violations and abuses during conflict receive reparations from the Government. G. Advocacy 63. With significant challenges remaining to the protection of children affected by conflict, advocacy is critical in developing awareness and instigating behaviour change with a view to ultimately ending grave violations against children in conflict. The Special Representative’s advocacy efforts will continue to highlight key issues of concern with a view to creating greater political and donor support for Governments and operational partners working on the protection of children affected by conflict. 64. Advocacy efforts will focus on a number of key priority areas. These include the delivery of comprehensive and long-term reintegration assistance for children, based on identified programmatic best practice; the rights of internally displaced children, particularly with regard to access to education and security; the rights of children in contact with justice systems, both as victims and perpetrators; the relationship between conflict and poverty, with particular reference to Millennium Development Goal indicators; and the protection challenges raised by the changing nature of conflict and the exposure of children to military operations. 65. The Special Representative will continue to engage with Member States, experts and the academic community to foster greater knowledge and develop and refine knowledge and understanding of emerging challenges to the protection of children in conflict. V. Mainstreaming child protection within the United Nations system A. Child protection in United Nations field missions 66. A key priority for the Special Representative has been the mainstreaming of child protection expertise within the United Nations system, in line with her mandate to contribute to the coordination of efforts and to promote the collection of information on the plight of children affected by armed conflict. Within the Secretariat, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs, two departments with a field presence, have appointed focal points to ensure that child protection concerns are factored into their departmental policy and operational activities, while working closely with the Office of the Special Representative. In 2011, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations obtained a regular post for the child protection focal point, enabling the provision of dedicated and sustained support to field-based child protection advisers and the mainstreaming of child protection at Headquarters. Given the increasing child protection challenges as outlined in the present report, there is a critical need for a consistent focus on child protection within relevant departments of the Secretariat. The Special 11-44370 15