A/HRC/17/44 from Nalut referred to threats being given on 18 February, by Government forces patrolling the streets, to the effect that residents of the district would face serious consequences, including rape, if they did not ally themselves with the regime. Media reports mention that there were a number of video recordings of rapes by Government soldiers recorded on their mobile phones being circulated in Misrata.183 (b) Rape by opposition armed forces 207. The Commission also received reports of rape during raids conducted by armed opposition forces in Ajdabiya and Al-Marj area. One Iraqi and one Libyan woman spoke of being raped by armed opposition forces in Al-Tulatat Street in Ajdabiya during the raid of their houses in early March. The Commission collected other information, that a Syrian woman in the Benghazi area was also raped by armed opposition forces during the second half of February. 208. The Commission also received some reports of rapes being carried out by armed civilians in areas controlled by the armed opposition force, raising issues of failures to protect from non-State violence. In one case, it was reported that eight heavily armed civilians gang raped a Chadian women on 26 February, “eight armed civilians with grenades, AK47s and knives entered into the compound he was living with his family and with many other Chadian families in Majuri neighbourhood in Benghazi. It was midnight and they entered in the compound, beaten the people with machetes and threaten people with their arms, asking them to leave the country and robbing their belongings. That night they entered into the room of his neighbour, a Chadian woman, 28 years old. Her husband was in Tripoli so she was alone that night. The eight armed civilian entered into her room, took her by force, took her clothes away and raped her, one after the other.” 4. Conclusions 209. The Commission received but was unable to verify individual accounts of rape. However, the Commission notes there was sufficient information received to justify further investigation to ascertain the extent of sexual violence including whether cases were linked to incitement by the command of either side. It is evident that the reports of the rapes have had a major psychological and social impact and have spread fear among the population. Given accounts that rape was committed as part of a policy to spread such fear, further investigation would be warranted. K. 1. Children in armed conflict Introduction 210. In its inquiry, the Commission has sought to investigate the situation of children within the conflict. As previous sections have demonstrated, children have often been among the victims of the armed conflict (through death and injury of themselves or their family members) and displacement. The Commission has also received allegations concerning the use of child soldiers by both sides to the conflict. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict has spoken of having evidence of the recruitment and use of child soldiers. 184 The Commission has 183 184 60 See Andrew Harding, “Libya: forced to rape”, BBC News, 23 May 2011. Available from www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13502715. See United Nations press release, “Press Conference to Launch Secretary-General‟s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict”, 11 March 2011. Available from www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2011/110511_Children.doc.htm.