A/RES/63/241 41. Calls upon States to protect all human rights of children in particularly difficult situations and to ensure that the best interests of the child are accorded primary consideration, and encourages the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Children’s Fund, other relevant United Nations bodies and mandate holders, within their respective mandates, to pay particular attention to the conditions of these children in all States and, as appropriate, to make recommendations to strengthen their protection; 42. Recognizes that the mass media and their organizations have a key role to play in raising awareness about the situation of children and the challenges facing them and that they should also play a more active role in informing children, parents, families and the general public about initiatives that promote and protect the rights of children and should also contribute to educational programmes for children; Children alleged to have infringed or recognized as having infringed penal law 43. Calls upon all States: (a) To abolish by law and in practice the death penalty and life imprisonment without possibility of release for those under the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offence, including by taking all necessary measures to comply with their obligations assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 25 and 24F (b) To keep in mind the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and the guarantees set out in United Nations safeguards adopted by the Economic and Social Council; 44. Encourages all States to develop and implement a comprehensive juvenile justice policy that includes, where appropriate, the introduction of alternative measures allowing for responses to juvenile delinquency without resorting to judicial procedures; 45. Urges States to take special measures to protect juvenile offenders, including the provision of adequate legal assistance, the training in juvenile justice of judges, police officers and prosecutors, as well as specialized defenders or other representatives who provide legal or other appropriate assistance, such as social workers, the establishment of specialized courts, the promotion of universal birth registration and age documentation and the protection of the right of juvenile offenders to maintain contact with their families through correspondence and visits, save in exceptional circumstances; 46. Calls upon all States to ensure that no child in detention is sentenced to forced labour or any form of cruel or degrading punishment or is deprived of access to and provision of health-care services, hygiene and environmental sanitation, education, basic instruction and vocational training; _______________ 25 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 11