A/HRC/12/49 page 11 children that promotes early family tracing and reunification; the care and protection of children with disabilities and with critical medical conditions; and, where appropriate, the need to ensure that children identified as being formerly associated with armed groups are separated from adults, granted legal protection and linked to services for swift rehabilitation and reintegration. 40. In addition, in line with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the Special Representative will continue to advocate for the “rights and guarantees” which should be accorded to every internally displaced child affected by armed conflict. These include: (a) The enjoyment of the same rights and freedoms as those not displaced in their country. They shall not be subject to discrimination as a result of their displacement whether or not they are living in camps; (b) The right to relevant documentation. Competent authorities shall issue internally displaced children with all documents necessary for the full enjoyment and exercise of their legal rights; (c) The right of every child to be reunited with his or her family. Every effort must be made to reunify separated children with their immediate family or relatives, failing which they may be placed with foster families. Siblings are to be kept together and institutional care is to be avoided; (d) The right to life, to dignity and to physical, moral and mental integrity; (e) The guarantee of physical security and the provision of safe places for children; (f) The guarantee not to be recruited or used nor required or permitted to take part in hostilities; (g) The right to protection against sexual and gender-based violence by the placement of adequate protective measures to prevent these violations whether or not they are living in camps. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that there are procedures for accountability once violations occur, and that effective programmes exist for the care of the victim; (h) The right to an adequate standard of living. Competent authorities shall provide internally displaced children with and ensure safe access to essential medical services and sanitation, basic shelter, essential food supplies and potable water and appropriate clothing, both during and after armed conflict; (i) The right to education, free and compulsory primary education and the provision of secondary education whenever possible, as education offers a degree of normalcy and stability. Full effort is to be made to ensure the full and equal participation of boys and girls in educational programmes. Education should be made available both during and after conflict. Education should be an important part of emergency response; (j) The guarantee of long-term psychosocial and physical recovery and reintegration programmes at the community level for children’s intellectual and emotional needs and overall well-being, during and after armed conflict;

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents