The first of its kind in the region, the consultation brought together child protection experts, including field-based UN staff, UN Regional Offices, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC), and representatives of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), to discuss implementation of the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) and monitoring of CAAC situations of concern. However, Watchlist noted that while the MRM is stronger when it includes the active participation of NGOs, the decision of whether and how to participate, including the level and type of engagement, should be determined by the NGOs themselves in each country context.