A/RES/62/6 importance of implementing Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict, and of ending the use of children contrary to international law, welcomes efforts by the Government of Afghanistan in this regard, and also welcomes the accession by Afghanistan to the Convention on the Rights of the Child 9 and the two optional protocols thereto, 10 as well as commitments made by the Government at the “Free Children from War” conference, held in Paris on 5 and 6 February 2007; 14. Welcomes the progress achieved through the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan, and supports the Government of Afghanistan in its efforts to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, 11 in line with the Millennium Development Goals, to cooperate fully with the Mine Action Programme coordinated by the United Nations and to eliminate all known or new stocks of anti-personnel landmines; 15. Recognizes the challenges following secure and fair elections and the establishment of democratic institutions as identified in the Afghanistan Compact,2 and calls upon the international community to continue to provide sustained support; 16. Welcomes the steps taken by the Government of Afghanistan on justice sector reform, also welcomes the progress made in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as an important step towards the goal of strengthening the Government, providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government in these areas in a coordinated manner, welcoming in this regard the outcome of the Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan, held in Rome on 2 and 3 July 2007; 17. Encourages the Government of Afghanistan to finalize the national justice sector strategy and the national justice programme, and calls upon the international community to ensure the requisite support for justice sector reform, including honouring commitments made at the Rome Conference; 18. Stresses once again the need for further progress on a comprehensive judicial reform in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to devote resources also to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates; 19. Calls for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law; 20. Continues to emphasize the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of _______________ 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. 11 Ibid., vol. 2056, No. 35597. 10 7