Discrimination against Women, UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on

women, peace and security calling for special measures to protect girls from trafficking, sexual and

gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and many forms of harmful practice, such as child/early

marriage, forced marriage and female genital mutilation, the incidence of which increases in conflict

and post-conflict situations,

Considering that the international legal framework dealing with children and armed conflict includes

instruments such as Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 relating to the Protection of

Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (1977); the Convention on the Rights of the Child

(1989); ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination

of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights

of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (2000),

Also considering that the international legal framework dealing with children and transnational

organized crime includes instruments such as the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

(2000), the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and

Children (2003), the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (2004), and the

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child

prostitution and child pornography (2002),

Aware that, in accordance with the Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed

Forces or Armed Groups (Paris Principles, 2007), a child associated with an armed force or armed

group is “any person below 18 years of age who is or who has been recruited or used by an armed

force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as

fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, spies or for sexual purposes”,

Recalling that, in accordance with Articles 26 and 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of

Treaties (1969), any State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child must ensure that the

rights and principles enshrined in the Convention are fully reflected and given legal effect in relevant

domestic legislation,

Recognizing that parliaments have a crucial role to play in ratifying international legal instruments

on the protection of children and accordingly, in implementing domestic legislation,

Underscoring that the role of parliaments in protecting the rights of children, in particular

unaccompanied migrant children and children in situations of armed conflict or affected by

organized crime, must be in line with international law and based on the best interests of the child,

Considering that policies criminalizing migrant children have a negative impact on children’s access

to basic rights,

1. Invites the parliaments of States which have not yet signed the three Optional Protocols to

the Convention on the Rights of the Child to urge their governments to proceed with their

signature and full accession;

2. Urges parliaments to prohibit all forms of violence and discrimination against children and to

pass enabling domestic legislation in order to give full effect to the Convention on the Rights

of the Child;

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