A/HRC/4/31 page 5 issue of demand for sexual services deriving from exploitation. The Special Rapporteur concluded that demand was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. In any situation of child sexual exploitation, there were several different kinds of demand generated by different actors at different times. The demand factor went hand in hand with the supply factor and the reasons that push children into sexual exploitation were also multiple. The Special Rapporteur stressed that educational programmes as well as awareness-raising activities were essential to reduce demand for services deriving from sexual exploitation. Persons in prostitution should never be penalized - either directly for prostitution or indirectly for engaging in a commercial activity without a visa or permit. Non-criminalization ensured that women and children who are forced into prostitution have access to the authorities without fear of sanctions. However, child sexual exploitation should always be criminalized, whether committed at home (internal trafficking) or abroad, and whether involving an individual or an organized group. Consent of the child to trafficking is always to be considered irrelevant. II. MAIN DEVELOPMENTS IN RELATION TO THE MANDATE A. Positive developments during the year 8. The Special Rapporteur is pleased that 10 more countries, namely Algeria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Thailand ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in 2006. The Special Rapporteur strongly encourages the States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the two Optional Protocols to the Convention, the other being on children and armed conflict. 9. At the regional level, 2006 was marked by the signature by Governments of West and Central African States of a multilateral agreement and regional plan of action to fight trafficking in persons and build a wall against traffickers in both regions. The Agreement was signed at a Joint Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Conference of Ministers to combat trafficking in persons held in Abuja, and hosted by ECOWAS. 10. Bilateral agreements were also signed in February 2006 between Albania and Greece on trafficking, and between Turkey and four neighbouring countries concerning trafficking in human beings to ensure cooperation with the police of other countries on that issue. Viet Nam and China organized in August 2006 a Children’s Forum on cross-border trafficking between these two countries. 11. At the national level, in February 2006 Benin adopted an Anti-Trafficking Law and in April 2006 Slovenia signed the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. In November 2006, Peru announced the creation of the Children’s Ombudsperson to oversee the defence and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents. As well, Afghanistan launched a new National Strategy for Children at Risk in May 2006, designed to improve care and support for the country’s most vulnerable children. This strategy will set out to improve provision of care for working street children who are orphans, children in conflict