A/HRC/9/21 page 4 Introduction 1. The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 7/13, in which the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. This is the first annual report submitted to the Council by Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid, appointed Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography on 26 March 2008. 2. Ms. Maalla M’jid succeeds Juan Miguel Petit, who held the mandate from 2001 to 2008, Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, Special Rapporteur from 1994 to 2001 and Vitit Muntarbhorn, Special Rapporteur from 1991 to 1994. 3. The Special Rapporteur wishes to pay resounding tribute to her predecessors for their work and for their progress in preventing and combating the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Her mandate will maintain and build on their activities and accomplishments. 4. Since its establishment by the Commission on Human Rights in Commission resolution 1990/68, the mandate on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has been continuously renewed, which, regrettably, underscores the need for the international community to remain vigilant with respect to these issues and for all stakeholders to step up their action to eliminate these shameful practices. 5. At its seventh session, the Council considered the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and decided, in its resolution 7/13, to extend the mandate for a period of three years. 6. In the present report, Ms. Maalla M’jid reviews the information received and activities undertaken by her predecessor since January 2008 and by herself since 1 May 2008, when she assumed her position. 7. However, in view of the short time that has elapsed since the Special Rapporteur assumed her position, she does not provide an in-depth analysis of specific topics but rather sets out a legal, methodological and thematic framework and a plan of action for her first mandate. I. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR 8. The present report covers the period from 1 January to 31 July 2008. At the seventh session of the Council, Juan Miguel Petit, the previous Special Rapporteur, introduced his final report (A/HRC/7/8), and took part in interactive dialogue with the members of the Council and a number of events organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 9. After assuming her functions on 1 May 2008, the Special Rapporteur held initial consultations in Geneva from 16 to 18 June, when she met with numerous NGOs working with child protection, and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.