A/RES/54/282 Page 8 VI. PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE 26. We will spare no effort to ensure that children and all civilian populations that suffer disproportionately the consequences of natural disasters, genocide, armed conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies are given every assistance and protection so that they can resume normal life as soon as possible. We resolve therefore: • To expand and strengthen the protection of civilians in complex emergencies, in conformity with international humanitarian law. • To strengthen international cooperation, including burden sharing in, and the coordination of humanitarian assistance to, countries hosting refugees and to help all refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their homes, in safety and dignity and to be smoothly reintegrated into their societies. • To encourage the ratification and full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child12 and its optional protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.13 VII. MEETING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF AFRICA 27. We will support the consolidation of democracy in Africa and assist Africans in their struggle for lasting peace, poverty eradication and sustainable development, thereby bringing Africa into the mainstream of the world economy. 28. We resolve therefore: • To give full support to the political and institutional structures of emerging democracies in Africa. • To encourage and sustain regional and subregional mechanisms for preventing conflict and promoting political stability, and to ensure a reliable flow of resources for peacekeeping operations on the continent. • To take special measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa, including debt cancellation, improved market access, enhanced Official Development Assistance and increased flows of Foreign Direct Investment, as well as transfers of technology. • To help Africa build up its capacity to tackle the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other infectious diseases. 12 Resolution 44/25, annex. 13 Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. /...