A/RES/50/153 Page 2 Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which states that national and international mechanisms and programmes should be strengthened for the defence and protection of children, in particular the girl child, abandoned children, street children, economically and sexually exploited children, including through child pornography, child prostitution or sale of organs, children victims of diseases including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, refugee and displaced children, children in detention, children in armed conflict and children victims of famine, drought and other emergencies, and also requires measures against female infanticide and harmful child labour, Reaffirming also that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children, Mindful of the important role of the United Nations and of the United Nations Children’s Fund in promoting the well-being of children and their development, Noting with appreciation the important work carried out by the United Nations, in particular the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the expert designated by the SecretaryGeneral to undertake the study on the effect of armed conflicts on children, Recognizing also the valuable work done by relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, Reaffirming that the rights of children require special protection and call for continuous improvement of the situation of children all over the world, as well as for their development and education in conditions of peace and security, Profoundly concerned about the continuing deterioration in the situation of children in many parts of the world as a result of armed conflicts, and convinced that immediate action is called for, Convinced that children affected by armed conflicts require the special protection of the international community and that there is a need for all States to work towards the alleviation of their plight, Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of inadequate social and economic conditions, natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitation, intolerance, unemployment, rural-to-urban migration, illiteracy, hunger and disability, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Deeply concerned by the persistence of the practice of the use of children for prostitution, sexual abuse and other activities, which may also often constitute exploitation of child labour, Recognizing the existence of a market which encourages the increase of such criminal practices against children, Concerned by the exploitation of child labour and by the fact that it prevents a large number of children from an early age, especially in poverty stricken areas, from receiving basic education and may unduly imperil their health and even their lives, /...