THE PARIS PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES ON CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH ARMED FORCES OR ARMED GROUPS February 2007 1 PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES ON CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH ARMED FORCES OR ARMED GROUPS1 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 4 Background to the principles.............................................................................................................................. 4 Overview of the principles ................................................................................................................................. 5 Purpose of the principles .................................................................................................................................... 6 Scope and target audience .................................................................................................................................. 6 2. DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................................................................... 7 3. OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................ 8 General principles............................................................................................................................................... 8 Preamble............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Non-discrimination............................................................................................................................................. 8 Best interests of the child ................................................................................................................................... 9 Children and justice............................................................................................................................................ 9 Treatment of those accused of violations of children’s rights ............................................................................ 9 Treatment of children accused of crimes under international law ...................................................................... 9 The right to life, survival and development...................................................................................................... 10 Children’s right to release from armed forces or armed groups ....................................................................... 10 Participation and respect for the views of the child.......................................................................................... 11 Operational principles ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Preamble........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Accountability and transparency ...................................................................................................................... 11 Context-specific programming......................................................................................................................... 11 Capacity strengthening ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Funding and other support for the prevention of unlawful recruitment or use and the release and reintegration of children ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Coordination, Collaboration and Cooperation.................................................................................................. 13 Confidentiality.................................................................................................................................................. 13 Information-sharing.......................................................................................................................................... 13 Media coverage ................................................................................................................................................ 13 4. ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC SITUATION OF GIRLS................................................................ 14 5. REFUGEE AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN ........................................................... 14 Refugee children .............................................................................................................................................. 15 Internally displaced children ............................................................................................................................ 16 6. PREVENTION OF UNLAWFUL RECRUITMENT OR USE.......................................................... 16 Ratification and implementation of international legal standards..................................................................... 17 Prevention in relation to refugees and internally displaced persons ................................................................. 19 Monitoring and reporting ................................................................................................................................. 19 Advocacy for prevention .................................................................................................................................. 20 Prevention and education ................................................................................................................................. 22 Building local initiatives................................................................................................................................... 22 Preventing the unlawful recruitment or use of girls.......................................................................................... 23 Family unity ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 1 This document exists in English and French. In case of discrepancy between the two languages, English is to be considered the definitive version. 2 7. RELEASE AND REINTEGRATION................................................................................................... 24 Planning and preparation.................................................................................................................................. 24 Protection of children who have been associated with armed forces or armed groups..................................... 25 Advocacy.......................................................................................................................................................... 26 Armed groups................................................................................................................................................... 26 Peace processes and peace agreements............................................................................................................. 27 The release process........................................................................................................................................... 27 Eligibility for the release process ..................................................................................................................... 28 The release ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 The release of children who are not in their state of nationality....................................................................... 29 Girls and the release process ............................................................................................................................ 29 Interviewing children ....................................................................................................................................... 30 An inclusive approach to reintegration............................................................................................................. 31 Material assistance ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Family tracing .................................................................................................................................................. 32 Support for families and communities to which children return or integrate.................................................... 32 Family reunification and family-based care arrangements ............................................................................... 33 Supporting children in finding a role in their community................................................................................. 34 Children with a disability and others requiring particular support.................................................................... 34 Interim care ...................................................................................................................................................... 35 Children who were