A/HRC/12/23 page 22 118. In April 2009 in South America, national coalitions and NGOs from seven countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama) adopted a declaration following a seminar on the development of comprehensive strategies to combat child pornography. 119. North-South cooperation continues to be relatively modest in the area of combating child pornography on the Internet. 120. The many activities undertaken by numerous stakeholders in various countries are adversely affected by lack of coordination and harmonization. 121. Since there are no borders between countries for Internet users, international cooperation would benefit from being broader, more effective and more efficient, and from harmonization of practices and procedures. III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 122. Despite the many actions undertaken and a measure of success, further progress must be made with a view to identifying more children, protecting children better and fully guaranteeing their rights. 123. To that end, child pornography must, first and foremost, be declared a crime and a grave violation of children’s rights that seriously affects their dignity and physical and psychological integrity. 124. In order to prevent and eradicate child pornography and prevent the Internet and new technologies from being used for the production and dissemination of child pornography and solicitation of children for sexual purposes both online and offline, the Special Rapporteur recommends: (a) Ratification by States that have not yet done so of the regional and international instruments dealing with child pornography, in particular the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; (b) Adoption of clear and comprehensive domestic legislation that guarantees respect for children’s rights and protects them from the crime of sexual exploitation on the Internet. Such legislation should: (i) Define, prohibit and criminalize child pornography on the Internet, in accordance with international human rights instruments, defining a minor as a human being under the age of 18; (ii) Stipulate that a minor can never be considered to be in a position to consent to participation in sexual exploitation, including pornographic activities;