A/RES/53/128 Page 3 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 1. Welcomes the unprecedented number of one hundred and ninety-one States that have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child4 as a universal commitment to the rights of the child; 2. Once again urges all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention as a matter of priority, with a view to reaching the goal of universal adherence by the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Children and of the entry into force of the Convention; 3. Takes note of the report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child,6 and recognizes its important role in creating awareness of the principles and provisions of the Convention and in providing recommendations to States parties on its implementation; 4. Invites the Committee to enhance further the constructive dialogue with the States parties to the Convention and the transparent and effective functioning of the Committee; 5. Welcomes the fact that the Committee held a thematic discussion on the rights of children living in a world with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and urges Governments, in cooperation with United Nations bodies and organizations, in particular the Joint and Cosponsored United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, to adopt all appropriate measures with a view to the realization of their rights; 6. Reaffirms the rights of all children affected by pandemics, particularly those living in a world with HIV/AIDS, to have access to health, education and social services and to be protected from all forms of discrimination, abuse or neglect; 7. Welcomes the increased attention given by the Committee to the realization of the highest attainable standards of health and access to health care, and also welcomes World Health Assembly resolution WHA51.22 of 16 May 1998 on the health of children and adolescents;7 8. Invites States parties, when reporting to the Committee on the implementation of article 7 of the Convention, to provide information, in accordance with the reporting guidelines of the Committee, on their levels of birth registration and other relevant data in this regard; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of appropriate staff and facilities for the effective and expeditious performance of the functions of the Committee, and takes note of the plan of action of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and of the steps taken to ensure temporary support to the Committee within the framework of the plan of action; 6 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/53/41). 7 See WHA51/1998/REC/1. /...