A/HRC/39/70 D. Women’s rights 54. In March 2018, the Independent Expert discussed with women’s associations in Bangui protection and activities to promote peace and security. She also met displaced women in Paoua, Bria and Bangassou, where extremely limited resources for multiple assistance needs reveal unprecedented poverty levels. It is essential to take into account rural women and girls, especially those who are displaced, at every level of humanitarian assistance and economic development projects, and in local and national peace processes and transitional justice activities. 55. The Independent Expert particularly wishes to underscore the example of Bangassou, where women and girls presented to her a project on peace consolidation through income-generating activities, which is seeking financing. She fully supports this type of project, which can be seen as a modest means of giving collective compensation to victims of violence in Bangassou, reconciling divided communities and responding to training and empowerment needs. She encourages the State and international partners to support this project in the framework of a local transitional justice strategy applicable to the context of Bangassou. 56. In Bangui, the Independent Expert encouraged women leaders to go to the regions to gather women’s needs and opinions so that they are heard in all decision-making authorities. She was informed of the establishment of a national observatory of equality between women and men as an independent body responsible for monitoring and evaluating implementation of the law on equality. She regrets that the implementing decree has yet to be adopted, thus preventing its operation. 57. During the High-level Interactive Dialogue on the Central African Republic held in Geneva on 21 March 2018, the Independent Expert encouraged the application of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security at the national and regional levels, and continued documentation of violence and of the impact of the conflicts on women and girls. She also advocated enhanced protection of women and girls and their full participation in peace negotiations. E. Situation of children 58. The Independent Expert deplores the fact that the situation of Central African children remains critical. She endorses the final observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the second periodic report of the Central African Republic, dated 8 March 2017 (CRC/C/CAF/CO/2). 59. Notwithstanding the large number of children demobilized by armed groups, the Independent Expert notes that the resurgence of the conflict has resulted in renewed recruitment of children, flouting the agreements signed during the Bangui Forum on National Reconciliation and other legal instruments on child protection. In 2017, the Central African Republic saw a significant increase in the number of children recruited by armed groups, with some 299 children (196 boys and 103 girls), in addition to 104 cases of murder and mutilation, 138 cases of sexual violence, 43 abductions of children, 28 attacks on schools and 19 on hospitals, and 101 cases of denial of humanitarian access to children (see A/72/865-S/2018/465). The Independent Expert took note of the action plan signed on 30 May 2018 by the armed group MPC to put an end to six serious violations against children and she encourages its speedy implementation. She was also informed that the social integration and psychological assistance projects are still insufficient and that the pilot project on disarmament, reintegration and repatriation of minors has been ineffective. 60. In collaboration with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the Independent Expert plans to strengthen advocacy for the protection of Central African children, in particular to raise awareness of the six serious violations that may affect children during armed conflict. 61. Regarding the geographic situation of the Central African Republic, the Independent Expert recommends that the question of child protection be raised at the regional level with 10 GE.18-13342