A/70/289 standards; the establishment of a minimum legal age of marriage of 18; and the harmonization of laws prohibiting child marriage with laws prot ecting children from violence. 7 33. Cooperation with African nations and institutions has been further pursued, including through the support of the Special Representative for t he African Union campaign to combat child marriage. Marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Special Representative joined the African Union, the African Child Policy Forum and UNICEF in the development of the African Report on Violence against Children. 8 The report reviews regional progress on the study on violence against children and recommends an agenda for action to address persisting challenges. It draws on the research initiatives and household surveys undertaken in the region and it will make a significant contribution in to the Conference on the Status of Children’s Rights in Africa, and the African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage, both to be held in late 2015. 34. The Council of Europe is developing its strategy for the period 2016 -2019 on the rights of the child, maintaining a sharp focus on violence against children and giving special attention to areas of concern raised by the Special Representative, namely the protection of children from online abuse, sexual violence and the increased risks associated with the economic crisis. 35. In July 2015, the European Union adopted an action plan on human rights and democracy for the period 2015-2019, in which it reaffirmed its commitment to the rights of the child, foresaw support for strengthened national systems for the protection of children from violence and promoted the ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. B. Strengthening cross-regional cooperation 36. The Special Representative organizes an annual round table with regional organizations and institutions to enhance cross-regional cooperation and accelerate progress in freeing children from violence. The high -level forum has become a strategic mechanism in the framework of the United Nations to promote policy dialogue; share knowledge and good practices; facilitate cross -fertilization of experiences; coordinate efforts and enhance synergies; identify trends and pressing challenges; and join forces to strengthen children’s safety and protection. 37. In 2015, the fifth cross-regional round table was hosted with the Council of Europe and devoted to the elimination of sexual violence against children, including when associated with the use of information and communications technologies (see box 6). It gathered representatives from eight regional organizations and leading experts on child protection, cybercrime and online safety from human rights bodies, national Governments, academia and civil society organizations. The round table was organized back to back with the Octopus Conference on cooperation against cybercrime, held in Geneva in June 2015, and a meeting of the Committee of the __________________ 7 8 15-13244 See www.saievac.org/download/Thematic%20Area%20Resources/Child%20Marriage/ RAP_Child_Marriage.pdf. Available from www.africanchildforum.org/rc1/index.php/component/sobipro/ ?pid=2&sid=115:the-african-report-on-violence-against-children&Itemid=0. 11/25