A/HRC/4/45 page 15 within the framework of Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) is commendable. The Office of the Special Representative also welcomes the efforts of OHCHR to ensure that the protection and rehabilitation of war-affected children receives the highest priority in policies, processes and programmes in conflict and post-conflict situations, both through its focus on rule of law projects and through thematic expertise. 34. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is another important “destination for action”; therefore, the Office of the Special Representative will continue to provide information on the status of the protection of the rights of war-affected children in specific country situations ahead of country reviews. The concluding observations of CRC on the country reports on the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict as well as on those submitted in relation to the Convention itself and addressing the issue of children and armed conflict will constitute a basis for continued advocacy by the Office of the Special Representative. CRC could incorporate monitoring and accountability on children and armed conflict issues in its scheduled reviews of States parties’ reports, giving special attention to the need to ensure the compliance of non-State actors during armed conflict. 35. The Office of the Special Representative will also continue to encourage Member States to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and to enact legislation that explicitly prohibits the recruitment of children into armed forces or groups and their direct participation in hostilities. The Optional Protocol presently has 110 parties and 122 signatories. VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 36. This past year has been a terrible year for children caught in situations of conflict, one which also witnessed parties defying even the basic principles of international humanitarian law, resulting in massive civilian casualties, especially children. It is therefore important, if not critical, that the United Nations human rights system continue to play a crucial role and actively uphold the need to protect the rights of war-affected children on the ground. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General therefore makes the following recommendations. 37. The Special Representative encourages States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to take measures to implement the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; to strengthen national and international measures to prevent the recruitment of children to the armed forces or armed groups and their use in hostilities, in particular by signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and to enact legislation that explicitly prohibits the recruitment of children under the age of 15 years into armed forces/groups and their direct participation in hostilities. 38. The Special Representative recommends that the Human Rights Council support the monitoring and reporting mechanism for children and armed conflict in all situations of concern and recognize and make an integral part of its agenda combating the six grave