A/HRC/17/44 2011. One wounded member of the armed opposition force informed the Commission that a number of children from the ages of 15 to 18 have been trained by rebel fighters in the mountains. (b) Children as victims of armed conflict 215. The Commission received numerous accounts of children being killed and injured in the ongoing fighting in Libya, particularly in the context of attacks committed by Government forces. The situation for children, in the besieged Misrata, during the reporting period has been particularly dire, with children featured amongst the civilian victims of heavy shelling and bombardment, snipers and attacks on hospitals. As noted in chapter III, section F, some injuries suffered appear to be consistent with Government forces undertaking indiscriminate attacks. Witnesses reported that on 11 March near Al-Abrak airport close to Tobruk, a girl under 10 years of age was killed while sleeping on the upper bed of a double deck-bed while her little brother was asleep on the lower bunk. She had been shot in the head by a single bullet, which may have been a stray round. On 4 May, media reports stated that at least three members of a family, including two children, were hit and killed by a missile while they waited for their evacuation from Misrata. 188 216. The Commission has also had concerns brought to its attention regarding the practice of the Government to systematically use children to participate in the organized pro-Government demonstrations in Tripoli through payments to the family. Given the security situation in Tripoli, such a practice exposes children to additional risk within the conflict. 4. Conclusion 217. The Commission notes that the ongoing conflict is having a significant negative impact on the rights of children. In relation to the use and recruitment of child soldiers, the Commission considers that more investigation and research is required in close cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies, notably UNICEF and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, as well as other NGOs. L. 1. NATO use of force Introduction 218. The Commission received reports stating that NATO military action has involved indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Media reports have also referred to a few instances where NATO operations have resulted in the death of civilians. On 18 May 2011, the Commission wrote to NATO Headquarters asking for specific information about its operations in Libya. As the Commission is awaiting the response from NATO, this section reflects information gathered from other sources. 2. Applicable law 219. The international humanitarian law rules applicable in international armed conflict govern international States‟ use of force in Libya. This comprises the four Geneva Conventions, plus Protocol I thereto in addition to norms of customary international 188 62 Xan Rice, “Gaddafi targets relief ship as it evacuates Misrata wounded in Libya”, The Guardian, 4 May 2011. Available from www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/04/gaddafi-targets-relief-shipmisrata-libya?INTCMP=SRCH.