A/RES/73/15 Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe (2016-2021), launched in Sofia, promoting the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 5 in its member States, recalls in this context that the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse is open for accession by all States, and also in this context takes note of the “Start to talk” initiative launched by the Secretary General of the Co uncil of Europe on 5 April 2018, which is a call to action to public authorities and the sport movement to take the necessary prevention and protection measures to stop child sexual abuse; 14. Notes with appreciation the commitments of the Council of Europe in the field of protection of persons belonging to national minorities; recognizes the important contribution of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages , in the 20 years since their entry into force, in protecting persons belonging to national minorities, as well as the paramount importance of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; 6 welcomes the reinforced action of the Council of Europe to promote the social inclusion and respect for human rights of the Roma, and encourages further cooperation among the United Nations, the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on minority issues and the Council of Europe in these fields; 15. Welcomes the regular and active contribution of the Council of Europe to the sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women and the agreed and specified cooperation between the Council of Europe and the United Nat ions Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), which includes support to member States, upon their request, in implementing commitments on gender equality and women’s human rights, in particular access to justice and women’s political participation, and the promotion of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy, takes note of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which is open for accession by all States, in this context encourages the above-mentioned bodies to continue to develop a fruitful collaboration in eliminating violence against women, including with the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and the achievement of de facto gender equality, and recognizes the important contribution of the Convention in eradicating this scourge; 16. Encourages continuing cooperation between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Council of Europe, including the Council of Europe Development Bank, in particular in the protection and promotion of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, and in the prevention and reduction of statelessness, in this context welcomes the contribution of the Council of Europe to the ongoing work on the implement ation of the global compact on refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration following the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants 7 in 2016, and encourages activities identifying durable solutions for refugees, including the facilitation of integration through education and the creation of employment opportunities, in this context notes with interest the results of the activities of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees, welcomes the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Refugee and Migrant Children in Europe (2017–2019), and recognizes the __________________ 5 6 7 4/7 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Resolution 47/135, annex. Resolution 71/1. 18-20450