1. INTRODUCTION
 1.0 Hundreds of thousands of children are associated with armed forces and armed groups in conflicts around the world. Girls and boys are used in a variety of ways from support roles, such as cooking or portering, to active fighting, laying mines or spying and girls are frequently used for sexual purposes. This recruitment and use of children violates their rights and causes them physical, developmental, emotional, mental, and spiritual harm.
 1.1 The recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups has been a focus of international attention and has been widely condemned, yet children continue to be involved in adult wars and to become disabled or die in such conflicts. While the release and reintegration into civilian life of many of these children has been supported through interventions and programmes designed to assist them, others have returned home on their own, often to face an uncertain future and a further fight for acceptance from their family and community. Girls in particular are likely to be stigmatized and even rejected by their community if it is known that they have been used by an armed force or armed group and the rejection of their children may be even more severe. Other children are encouraged by their families and communities to participate in armed conflict, despite the danger and harm this involves. Despite their experiences, such children are resilient and can contribute constructively to reconstruction and reconciliation efforts if given appropriate help, support and encouragement.
 Background to the principles
 1.2 Almost a decade after they were agreed, UNICEF initiated a global review of the “Cape Town Principles and Best Practices on the Prevention of Recruitment of Children into the Armed Forces and on Demobilization and Social Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Africa” (“the Cape Town Principles”). Adopted in1997, the Cape Town Principles were the result of a symposium organised by UNICEF and the NGO Working Group on the Convention on the Rights on the Child to develop strategies for preventing recruitment of children, demobilising child soldiers and helping them to reintegrate into society. The Principles have obtained recognition well beyond this original group to become a key instrument to inform the development of international norms as well as shifts in policy at the national, regional and international levels.
 1.3 The accumulated knowledge gained from wide ranging and diverse experience in this field since 1997 has led to a more community-based and inclusive approach. There is a growing awareness of the multiple dimensions of the use of children by armed forces or armed groups and the complexities of dealing with the problem and addressing root causes. Together with changes such as the inclusion of recruitment of children under 15 years as a war crime in the International Criminal Court Statute and the development of jurisprudence in this area, these factors prompted recognition of the need to update the Principles and to increase their endorsement beyond actors who specialise in children’s rights.
 1.4 An extensive review process was undertaken by UNICEF together with partners involving seven regional reviews, some including regional or sub-regional workshops, carried out in 2005 and 2006. This led to agreement on the need for two documents; the first a short and concise document – The Paris Commitments to Protect Children Unlawfully Recruited or Used by Armed Forces or Armed Groups (“The Paris Commitments”) and this second, complementary document
 
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 The Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups (“the Paris Principles”), which provide more detailed guidance for those who are implementing programmes. Drafting of the documents was carried out in consultation with a reference group representing a wide range of actors. Revisions were made to incorporate recommendations made during a meeting held in New York in October 2006 which brought together implementing organisations, experts and other interested parties from across the globe. Broad political endorsement from States for the Paris Commitments and Paris Principles at a ministerial meeting held in Paris in February 2007 Overview of the principles
 1.5 Based on international law and standards and on the original Cape Town Principles this document incorporates knowledge and lessons learned and in particular emphasises the informal ways in which boys and girls both become associated with and leave armed forces or armed groups. Taking a child rights-based approach to the problem of children associated with armed forces or armed groups, the Principles underscore the humanitarian imperative to seek the unconditional release of children from armed forces or armed groups at all times, even in the midst of conflict and for the duration of the conflict.
 1.6 The Principles recognise that, in situations of armed conflict, States and armed groups are the primary actors responsible for the protection of civilians in their effective control and that if they are unable or unwilling to meet all of their humanitarian responsibilities directly they are charged with enabling the provision of humanitarian action by impartial actors.
 1.7 The Principles are based on the following lessons drawn from global experience in implementing programmatic interventions to prevent recruitment, protect children, support their release from armed forces or armed groups and reintegrate them into civilian life:
 1.7.0 The precise nature of the problem and the solution will vary according to the context. A situation analysis, including a gender analysis, should inform and guide all interventions; 1.7.1 Any solution should address the needs of all children affected by armed conflict and incorporate activities to develop and support local capacity to provide a protective environment for children; 1.7.2 The protective environment should incorporate measures to prevent discrimination against girls whose use in armed conflicts is pervasive yet often unrecognised and to promote their equal status in society; 1.7.3 A long term commitment by all actors to prevent the unlawful recruitment or use of children, promote their release from armed forces or armed groups, protect them and support their reintegration is essential; 1.7.4 The family including the extended family and clan and the community should be actively incorporated in the development and implementation of interventions and activities, and they in turn should participate in finding solutions. The inclusion of continuous advocacy to raise awareness of the criminality of recruiting children (including toward parents who “volunteer” the services of their children).
 1.8 For solutions to be sustainable, child protection needs to span humanitarian and development programmes, requiring a strategic, child-centred coordination between civil society, humanitarian/emergency, peacekeeping and development and reconstruction actors. In order to address the underlying causes of child recruitment, to address the fluid nature of most armed conflicts and to address the need to take action for children while conflict is still active, the
 
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 preparation of an appropriate strategic response, supported by adequate funding, is required urgently as soon as children’s unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups is identified as a possibility and for the immediate, medium and long term. From the earliest possible stages, development actors should also involve themselves in strategies for the prevention of unlawful recruitment and the reintegration of children into civilian life. Purpose of the principles
 1.9 These Principles reflect experience and knowledge from across the globe and are intended to both foster greater programmatic coherence and support and promote good practice.
 Scope and target audience
 1.10 The Principles were developed by, and intend to affect the behaviour of, a broad range of actors including: States (both affected countries and donor governments), human rights actors, humanitarian actors, development actors, military and security actors (state and non-state), associated organisations including UN organisations, other inter-governmental actors, national and international organisations and community based organisations. While some of these actors have a specific mandate or role in relation to children, all have a role to play and broad responsibility for the rights and wellbeing of children associated with armed forces or groups.
 1.11 These Principles are designed to guide interventions for the protection and well-being of such children and to assist in making policy and programming decisions. The principles aim to guide interventions with the following objectives: 1.11.1 To prevent unlawful recruitment or use of children; 1.11.2 To facilitate the release of children associated with armed forces and armed groups; 1.11.3 To facilitate the reintegration of all children associated with armed forces and armed groups; 1.11.4. To ensure the most protective environment for all children.
 1.12 While it is recognised that no one set of ‘best practice’ applies in all contexts, these Principles are designed to provide a framework and bring together ideas and approaches which have been used successfully across the globe.
 1.13 The Principles should be used alongside other resources; the UN Integrated Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Standards (IDDRS) modules on children, youth and gender provide comprehensive guidance particularly in relation to those children who enter a formal “Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration” (DDR) process.
 1.14 The Principles, as well as the Paris Commitments, are also designed to assist States and donors in meeting their obligations and taking funding decisions. Effort has been made to ensure that the Principles are consistent with relevant international law, notably legislation related to the minimum age of recruitment. While recognising that States have different obligations under international law, a majority of child protection actors will continue advocating for States to strive to raise the minimum age of recruitment or use to 18 in all circumstances.