conflicts, and requests the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, and invites civil society, to assist Member States in this field; 42. Takes note of part two of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (A/62/228), on the strategic review of the 1996 study by Graça Machel entitled “Impact of armed conflict on children”, and of the significant developments and achievements in the protection of children in armed conflict at the national and international levels, and calls upon Member States and observers, and invites relevant entities of the United Nations system as well as civil society, as appropriate, to study carefully its recommendations, recognizing the need for discussion on the issues raised therein, and stresses the need for the views of Member States to be fully taken into account in this regard; 43. Recalls, in accordance with international humanitarian law, that indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including children, are prohibited, and that they shall not be the object of attack, including by the way of reprisals or excessive use of force, condemns these practices and demands that all parties immediately put an end to them; 44. Calls upon all States to pay special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of girls affected by armed conflict; 45. Calls upon States: (a) When ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, to raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment of persons into their national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention, bearing in mind that under the Convention persons under 18 years of age are entitled to special protection, and to adopt safeguards to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced; (b) To take effective measures to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as distinct from the armed forces of a State, including the adoption of legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practice, and the adoption of measures to prevent re-recruitment, in particular education;