Convention and the steps taken by the Government and its partners to ensure the implementation by a majority of the population, especially in rural areas. 1.1.7 Cooperation with civil society organisations representing children and youth The state institutions responsible for child protection work closely with civil society organisations, particularly NGOs working on children’s issued or working for children, most of which were grouped since 1996 in the NGOs and associations Forum supporting children in difficult situation. Institutionally, this partnership is evident in the participation of a representative of the Forum, or one of the NGO members, to meetings of the various committees set up to deal with aspects related to child rights, including the CIM, the CNS, the CNLVFFE as well as in the Committee for the Determination of the Best Interests of the Child and the PN-OVC. The participation of civil society active members in child protection is also provided in the process of drafting the framework document and the descriptive document on child protection system. The collaboration between the Government and the children’s associations occurs through seminars, workshops, national and international meetings during which children express their opinions. Several children’s associations are in the country including: - The Children's Parliament of Côte d'Ivoire (PECI) - The Association of Working Children and Youth in Ivory Coast (AEJTCI) - The Right of Children in Ivory Coast (EICB) - La Colombe de l’Espérance In these consultations, a specific position is left for the Children's Parliament of Côte d'Ivoire (PECI). The PECI was institutionalised by Decree No 2013-857 of 19 December 2013. It is a platform for free expression of children. It is secular and without trade union or political aims. The elective General Assembly took place in Abidjan (Boy Orphanage of Bingerville) from 25 July to 08 August 2014. The Children's Parliament of Côte d'Ivoire represents children from the two (02) autonomous districts (Abidjan and Yamoussoukro) and twenty-eight (28) regions (Loh Djiboua, Indénié Djuablin, Haut Sassandra, Gbêkê, South Comoé, Agneby-Tiassa Goh, Guemon, Cavally, the Mé, the Nawa Iffou, San Pedro, Gountougo, Boukani, Marahoué, N'Zi, Moronou, Hambol, Gbôklê, Poro, Kabadougou, Baing, Tonpki, Major Bridges, Tchologo, Bagoue and Bélier) of Côte d'Ivoire. It is gender balanced. The PECI's mission is: • To assist the government in implementing the National Policy on Child Protection; • To carry out all the information activities, sensitisation of children, parents, governments, civil society and all those who can contribute to the expression of a true national and international solidarity for the improvement of the physical, social and economic well -being of children. As such: • It contributes to the mobilisation of children around the children's programmes; • It raises awareness and challenges the authorities and civil society involved in the implementation of the implementation action plan of the National Policy on Child Protection. The resources of the Children's Parliament come from the General State Budget, from technical and financial partners, from donors, various contributions of public or private institutions, local authorities, associations and NGOs working for children. RAPPORT INITIAL SUR LA MISE EN OEUVRE DE LA CHARTE AFRICAINE DES DROITS ET DU BIEN ÊTRE DE L'ENFANT 25