A/HRC/26/34 of the key features of essential decisions reached during the Conference towards securing a universal climate change agreement in 2015. 39. The objective of the forthcoming 2015 agreement is to bring nations together in a binding global commitment and action to reduce emissions rapidly enough to avoid the danger zone of the changing climate while humanity builds adaptation capacity, and to stimulate faster and broader action immediately. The idea is to successfully conclude negotiations and forge a universal agreement by December 2015, which will enter into force in 2020. Governments agreed to put forward their nationally determined contributions by the beginning of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima at the end of 2014. It was also decided that nationally determined contributions would be put forward in a clear and transparent manner, and developed countries were urged to provide support to developing countries in that important domestic process. 40. The Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage was established to address the loss and damage caused by the effects of long-term climate change in developing countries, which are especially vulnerable to such effects. The mechanism will facilitate the exchange of information and best practices for dealing with loss and damage induced by climate change and will strengthen action and support, including by facilitating the mobilization of finance. The interim implementation of the Mechanism will be guided by an executive committee, which will report to the Conference of the Parties and be reviewed in 2016. 41. The rulebook for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation was agreed along with measures to bolster forest preservation and a results-based payment system to promote forest protection. Additionally, the framework for measuring, reporting and verifying mitigation efforts, including by developing countries, is now fully operational. The agreement is important because it means that the mitigation, sustainability and support efforts of countries can now be measured more accurately. 42. The Green Climate Fund, which aims to be a major channel for financing global action, will be ready for capitalization in the second half of 2014. D. Third Africa-Arab Summit: Kuwait Declaration 43. The Third Africa-Arab Summit, held from 19 to 20 November 2013 in Kuwait City, was a gathering of leaders of the countries of the two regions. They came together with a common resolve to strengthen South-South cooperation and the solidarity and friendship between the countries and their peoples with a view to consolidating Africa-Arab relations based on the principles of equality, mutual interests and respect. The theme of the summit was “Partners in Development and Investment.” Highlights of the Kuwait Declaration, adopted as the outcome document of the summit, are outlined in the paragraphs that follow. 44. The Declaration urged all relevant stakeholders to find peaceful settlements to political crises in the two regions and support the progress made in peacebuilding and postconflict reconstruction and development. It condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and transnational organized crime such as hostage-taking, human trafficking, piracy and proliferation of arms, and called upon all African and Arab countries to support the implementation of the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel. 45. The Declaration also called upon States to formulate the necessary laws to protect youth and women, enhance their economic empowerment, ensure their participation in the decision-making process on an equal footing with men, and guarantee their full participation in all aspects of political, economic and social activities; and to support strategies and initiatives aimed at the elimination of discrimination against women in order 10