A/HRC/13/46 C. Cooperation with civil society, including children and young people 42. When the study was being developed, strong support was received from civil society organizations and a decisive contribution from children and young people. Both groups remain active partners in the process of implementation of the study’s recommendations. 43. As highlighted in previous sections of this report, the Special Representative promotes mutually supportive collaboration with civil society. This cooperation has been facilitated by the establishment, in 2007, of the NGO Advisory Council, which was formed to support strong and effective follow-up to the study. The Council has equal representation from leading international organizations and national and regional NGOs, and its primary aim is to encourage and maintain NGO involvement at national, regional and international levels, in advocacy with Governments, United Nations agencies and other stakeholders for full implementation of the study’s recommendations. 44. The Special Representative met with the NGO Advisory Council in early October 2009 in New York. The meeting helped to shed light on strategic areas where progress can be further achieved and identify significant opportunities for fruitful cooperation in the follow-up to the study’s recommendations at the global, regional and national levels and across the various settings within which violence against children continues to take place; these areas and opportunities include the adoption of national plans of action to advance implementation of the study’s recommendations, the legal prohibition of all forms of violence against children in all settings, the collection and dissemination of disaggregated data on violence against children and the establishment of effective and accessible complaint mechanisms for children. The meeting also considered ways of enhancing children’s participation in the follow-up to the study, benefiting from their insights and experience, and mobilizing and empowering them to take action in their own communities. 45. With the same aim, the Special Representative met in Geneva with the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Working Group on Children and Violence, which highlighted the importance of pursuing strong collaboration with human rights bodies and mechanisms, in particular the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Council. 46. The Special Representative also held important discussions at the regional level with NGO partners and with child-led organizations to consider ways of further consolidating action in violence prevention and responses. This cooperation will continue to be actively pursued in the framework of the Special Representative’s agenda. 47. Over recent years, the participation of children and young people in the promotion of actions to address violence against children has been significant. Their contribution to the study was essential and their involvement continues to be critical for the steps ahead. 48. As noted in the sections above, during the initial period of her mandate, the Special Representative has reached out to children and young people in a number of meetings and discussions held at global, regional and national levels. Across the regions, children express strong concern at the incidence of violence; they inspire a deep sense of urgency, and their views and recommendations help to refine the effectiveness of actions taken, including by helping to improve understanding of the hidden face of violence, raise awareness and promote advocacy on positive initiatives, and support the development of child-sensitive policies and mechanisms. 49. Dialogue and regular consultations with children and young people will remain a core component of the Special Representative’s mandate. In this regard, the Special Representative welcomes the adoption by the Committee on the Rights of the Child of its general comment No. 12 on the right of the child to be heard, which, as acknowledged by General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/146, will be a valuable reference for the 12 GE.10-10640