A/HRC/19/64 63. Still too often, the criminal justice system ends up being used as a substitute for weak child protection institutions, in turn further stigmatizing vulnerable groups of children, including those who are homeless and poor, or have run away from home as a result of violence. As highlighted by the work of the Human Rights Council, marginalized and socially excluded children, including those living and/or working on the street, need to be protected from violence, stigmatization and discrimination. Survival behaviours, such as begging, vagrancy, truancy or running away, need to be dealt with as protection concerns, rather than through punitive measures. Overall, it remains critical to end the criminalization of marginalized children, as well as the impunity for crimes committed against them. 64. These concerns were also high in the agenda of the Kampala Conference on Child Justice in Africa, organized in November 2011 by the Africa Child Policy Forum and Defence for Children International with the support of the Government of Uganda and in which the Special Representative participated. The meeting included the participation of government officials and civil society representatives from 35 countries. The Munyonyo Declaration and its Call for Action,9 adopted by the meeting, will be a key reference for future action. 65. The Kampala Conference also produced a set of Guidelines on Action for Children in the Justice System in Africa.10 The Guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for the development of safe and child-friendly justice systems, covering all procedures of an administrative or judicial nature, whether formal or informal, including traditional systems. 66. In January 2012 the Special Representative will organize with UNODC, OHCHR and the Government of Austria an expert consultation on the prevention of violence against children within the justice system. Framed by international standards on juvenile justice, the consultation offers an important platform to present and reflect on national and international initiatives which can help to identify and address risk and contributing factors to violence within the juvenile justice system, and promote strategies and measures to prevent violence and strengthening children‘s effective protection there from. The Expert Consultation conclusions and recommendations will feed into the thematic debate in Human Rights Council on the rights of children involved in the justice system. D. Strengthening the institutionalization of regional processes and governance structures in support of national efforts to prevent and address violence against children 67. The collaboration with regional organizations and institutions is a cornerstone of the Special Representative‘s strategy to accelerate progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Study. These partnerships have been crucial to develop policy platforms to capture positive developments, identify concerns and challenges, and mobilize action to safeguard children‘s right to freedom from violence. 68. Noticeable progress has been made in this regard, with the development of regional agendas on follow-up to the Study, the institutionalization of regional governance structures, and the adoption of significant political commitments towards violence prevention and elimination. A compilation of these declarations and strategies is included in the annex to this report. 69. To take stock and reflect upon the significant process of change promoted by these regional initiatives and mechanisms, and strengthen cross-regional cooperation, the Special 9 10 14 Available at www.box.com/shared/paq26ogbz9t1uf5bhz0r. Available at www.kampalaconference.info/images/Guidelines.pdf.