A/HRC/40/28 60. States must take appropriate measures to ensure that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration in their counter-terrorism laws and policies. Overly broad counter-terrorism laws prohibiting loose association with, or material support for, terrorist groups can in practice criminalize the provision of assistance to associated children, impede efforts to inform them of their rights, prevent advocacy with terrorist groups on the legal prohibition of recruitment of children and even hinder negotiation of the release of children (see A/73/314). An associated child’s right to release, protection and reintegration is immediate and does not depend on the existence of a ceasefire, peace agreement or formal disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. 61. The Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups draw on a considerable body of expertise to lay out best practices for successful, human rights-based reintegration and prevention of re-recruitment. Children should not be institutionalized but should return to their families and communities as early as possible, following a risk assessment and any necessary community sensitization. Where reintegration with their own families is not possible, alternative family-based care arrangements should be sought. Reintegration programmes should be available to all children who wish to participate and accessible to children with disabilities. They should include support for vulnerable, non-associated children in the community, in order to reduce stigma and avoid a perception that children who may have harmed the community are privileged over others. Programmes should strengthen local capacity to provide longterm support to children, their families and communities. 62. Some formerly associated children, particularly those who have committed or been subjected to acts of physical or sexual violence, may require intensive psychosocial support and counselling, but others may reintegrate quickly in a supportive environment with only minimal psychosocial support. Referrals should be based on an individual assessment, taking into account that symptoms of trauma can take some time to appear and may vary between boys and girls owing to their different socialization. Any participation by children in group or individual counselling must be voluntary. 63. The measures that may help prevent child association with a terrorist group do not necessarily overlap neatly with the measures that can facilitate dissociation and reintegration into society. The narrative of radicalization is of limited value in preventing association, but there is evidence that some children who have committed or participated in violent acts may internalize violent extremist narratives in a post facto justification of their actions. For such children, de-radicalization measures may play an essential role in their reintegration, but for others they may prove counterproductive, further stigmatizing children and their communities, or exacerbating grievances by ignoring or minimizing the primary motivators that in fact led to association.56 64. Reintegration programmes must take account of the social, economic, psychological and security stressors that may have driven association and include measures aimed at preventing re-association. In some contexts, good practices and lessons learned from the reintegration of former gang members can inform programme design. Disassociation may involve a significant loss of status, resulting in feelings of insignificance and ineffectiveness, which can be reduced through active child participation in programme design and implementation. Formerly associated children could take on non-traditional roles in their communities, applying any useful skills they have acquired through association in a positive way. 65. Girls often choose not to access formal release and reintegration programmes owing to a fear of stigmatization. In such cases, informal community-based programmes should be available, partnering with existing women’s groups and including access to education and vocational training. All programmes should be gender-sensitive and include an adequate number of female personnel to ensure that girls feel secure and comfortable in accessing the support available. The perceived value of girls is often associated with marriageability in patriarchal social structures. Girl victims of child, early and forced marriage or other sexual 56 14 See Kato van Broeckhoven, “A complex programming landscape: the prevention of and response to child association with non-State armed groups”.