A/HRC/31/71 resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1889 (2009), be represented at all levels, including in decisionmaking and leadership positions. She also calls for the integration of women’s rights issues and a gender perspective in any future dialogue, and for women’s civil society organizations to be given formal access to the process. She welcomes the recommendation made at a senior officials workshop held in 2015 on formulating a national strategy or plan of action on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), and urges the Government to work with national organizations and the international community in this regard. 60. Truth-seeking, accountability and reparations processes for current and historic conflict-related violations are critical for building a sustainable and inclusive peace. They should not be seen as threatening, but rather an opportunity to foster national reconciliation and to build trust. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to consider broad and public consultations on possible frameworks and forms for such processes. 61. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the signing by the Government of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on children and armed conflict in September 2015, and hopes that it will be ratified quickly. She also welcomes the efforts to implement the joint action plan of the United Nations and the Government to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. In November 2015, the military discharged 53 underage recruits, thus bringing to 698 the total number of children released since the signing of the joint action plan in 2012. The Ministry of Defence informed the Special Rapporteur that 18,699 members of the military had received training on the prevention of underage recruitment; disciplinary action had been taken against 382 military personnel; the country task force on monitoring and reporting had made a total of 40 monitoring visits; and that efforts were being made to raise public awareness of the issue. The recruitment and use of children in the military, border guard forces, and particularly in non-State armed groups, continues nonetheless. Furthermore, the continued detention of children as “deserters” remains a concern. The Special Rapporteur calls upon the Government and all armed groups to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers. She also urges the Government to accelerate the identification, release and reintegration of all children currently in the armed forces. The Government should also strengthen age verification and monitoring and oversight mechanisms for recruitment, and ensure that all those responsible for child recruitment and use, including civilian brokers, are brought to justice. F. Development and economic, social and cultural rights 62. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the State’s ongoing commitment to improve the economic and social development of its people. This remains of vital importance for the future transformation of the country. She reiterates the need to ensure that development and investment are managed proactively to ensure rights-based and people-centred processes, which bring benefits to all. Such processes should include poverty reduction, equitable resource-sharing and non-discrimination as central pillars. Steps should be taken to amend legislation where relevant, but also to change existing mindsets and practices. In this context, the signing by the Government of the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights is particularly welcome, given that, together with the Sustainable Development Goals, it can constitute a comprehensive framework and benchmarks for the State’s development. 63. Land issues will be one of the most pressing challenges for the new Government. An estimated 70 per cent of the population of Myanmar live in rural areas dependent on agriculture and related activities. Forced evictions, land-grabbing and land confiscation for development projects, mining and other natural resource extraction remain issues of serious 14